Florida Woman Punches Alligator to Save Her Dog
A Florida woman says she acted on instinct when she fought off an alligator that tried to drag her puppy into a creek.
Morning Walk Turns Dangerous
Land O’ Lakes resident Danie Wright was walking her 4-month-old shih tzu, Dax, along a creek behind her home when the unexpected happened. She said the water looked calm and still, but within seconds, a 5-foot alligator lunged out of the creek and grabbed her dog.
“I turned and looked, and an alligator had him,” Wright recalled. “The alligator’s front teeth were through the collar of my dog.”
Fighting Back Against the Gator
The gator began pulling Dax into the water, forcing Wright to react immediately. She started punching the animal repeatedly in the face and eyes, trying to get it to release her pet.
“I just punched him, punched and punched,” Wright said. “I punched him in the eye enough that he kind of let go, he unclamped a little, and I pulled off, but his teeth dragged down my arm.”
Despite being injured herself, Wright was able to wrestle her dog away. She then flipped the gator onto its back before running into the house with Dax. Both she and the puppy survived the attack, though shaken.
Officials Remove the Alligator
After the incident, Wright captured video of the gator still lingering behind her home. Wildlife officials were called, and trappers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed the reptile from the property.
A Warning for Pet Owners
Wright hopes her story serves as a reminder to other pet owners about the risks of walking near Florida waters.
“Just be careful with your dogs,” she said. “These alligators are no joke. He came out from about 15 feet away, and I didn’t even see him.”
Alligator encounters are not uncommon in Florida, especially in warm months, and wildlife officials encourage residents to always stay alert near lakes, creeks, and ponds.
