Dog Survives Gator Attack

Princess never thought her swim in the lake would cause her to get attacked by a gator. She got lucky when Julie Balliette, 43, noticed her in trouble, big trouble, according to the Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger.

At a family trip to Mary Holland Park, Princess, a Labrador/Doberman mix, decide she needed a swim in Lake Heron. At 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, the sun was setting and you could just barely see the silhouette of an alligator. "I just saw the ripple come up around her and it just snatched her," said Balliette. "I said, 'fight Princess, fight. Swim Hard.'"

The attack was about 15 feet from the shore and last about 20 seconds. Princess was terrified as her shoulders were in the gators mouth, she looked to her owner for some kind of support or help. "She (Princess) was howling, and I was screaming and somehow she got out," said Balliette. She also began splashing water, clapping her hands and making noises, hoping to scare the gator.

Princess was rushed to the vet, by Balliette and her oldest daughter, Sunny, 19. She had one staple in her back. Princess was not servely hurt by the gator bite. Dr. David Lee, of Edgewood Animal Clinic in Lakeland and Princess' veterinarian, said alligators are "a lot stronger and faster and usually dogs don't win." He gave her blue and orange bandages, the color of the Florida Gators. Balliette said, "she's our gator girl. She has earned her stripes."

Gary Morse, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission spokesman, said that when "pets are attacked, that's an indication that the behavior that protects people from alligator action is starting to break down." Also, "alligators associate pets with people. Alligators do not differentiate between the chef, the waiter, the meal and who's being served."

All attacks on pets should be reported by calling 1-866-FWC-GATOR. You can also get more information about dealing with gators at www.myfws.com/gators/. Most importantly, if you live on the water or are visiting a local lake area, never feed the wildlife and throw scraps from fish into the water.

Trappers have been to the lake of the attack, and did find a gator, however it was not known if this was the gator that attacked Princess, told by Les Barr, Bartow parks and Recreation. The gator was described as being 6 to 8 feet long. Balliette's husband stated the gator did resurface after the attack. The plan for next week trappers want to catch all gators over 4 feet in length.

By Sarah Stegall
Special to The Ledger
http://www.theledger.com/article/20070623/NEWS/706230443/1039