It was man vs. alligator in the fight to save a puppy’s life.
Richard Wilbanks was walking near a pond when an approximately 3-foot-long gator snatched his 3-month-old puppy, Gunner, and pulled the dog under water.
Fox News reports a camera placed by Florida Wildlife officials caught the 74-year-old man jumping in, grabbing the gator and prying its jaws open, all the while smoking a cigar.
Wilbanks said it was “extremely difficult pulling its jaws apart.” His hands were chewed up.
Gunner suffered a single puncture to the midsection and was patched by a vet.
Wilbanks says he wants to remind folks with pets to stay away from the edge of water.
Would you have jumped in to save your pet’s life?