TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man shot at an alligator to free his dog from its jaws.
Tom Martino says he and his Jack Russell terrier Lizabeth were walking along the Hillsborough River in Tampa on Thursday when the alligator wrestled the 15-pound dog into the water.
Martino started shooting into the water around the alligator to scare it into releasing the 9-year-old dog. He performed CPR on the dog until it coughed up water and started breathing again.
Lizabeth is now being treated for alligator bits and lung injuries from being underwater.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trapper captured the 5- to 6-foot alligator Thursday night.
Martino has a concealed weapons permit.
Its unfortunate that chances are the Alligator will be put down but this guy really is a hero to his dog and dog lovers everywhere. I have huge respect for him as he could have easily used his 357 to kill the Alligator but decided to use it to scare the animal away, then on top of that he resuscitates his dog. He is my hero.