Yeah well, things change, there were people living here too, don't see them hanging around.

...

uh oh...this is taking a bad turn. I guess poop wasn't enough to fight over.... I see a common thread (no pun intended) in any dog discussions. Polarizing. Actually, I wonder if there is any topic that everyone would agree on? That is a thread to be started. "Nondebatable topics."

LOL good luck. But other than definitive topics, folks do get a wealth of knowledge off this web site that saves money and heart ache just by using TOTV for research before they leap or buy or commit. I feel I owe TOTV about 20,000 dollars for the information I have gleaned from this site in just a few years.

That said, My name is John Doe and I live in Oklahoma, just in case they are planing to send me a bill. LOL

I think that if any one of us were confronted with the situation of our pet being eaten alive we would react, maybe not wrestling a gator, but I don't think any of us could stand watching and do nothing.

That's how they get rid of them. They shoot them. As far as I know that relocating stuff you see on TV is just that. TV stuff.

I think he did a wonderful brave thing... I have lived in Florida for over 30 years and gators are not to be tangled with, that gator should of been removed earlier I can't believe he was the first to see it...

I disagree with condemning the dog owner because the gator was killed. Humankind has priority over animal life, as much as we love and value them.....

"28 God blessed them and said to them (man and woman), “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” --Genesis 1:28

"Dont bash the man”? If the reporter was accurate and I quote " he plans to keep a closer eye on Bounce when she's near the shoreline" he needs to bashed, in my opinion. If he doesn't keep Bounce on a leash, he deserves to be cited for animal cruelty!

I see what you say as different than giving up your life for the pet. I agree most would do something.

Having heart, human kindness and understsanding makes for a peaceful world. Horrible incidents happen, we all know, and for some they personally experience terrible things. I watched the video on this incident. The lake is by his yard. He was trimming his tree. The dog ran to the lake. Things happen in life, horrible things, to the best people who take great care and pride in what they do. But I always say, life changes in a minute. You are healthy, and then you are not; you are driving, there is an accident; you are walking, you take a fall; you are trimming a tree and your dog goes to the lake. Everything changes in an instant. We are not G-d, we are human. We make mistakes. Life happnes. Lessons are learned. Criticizing others is easy to do. I think best to always look inward to see how each of us can be a better person and support others to find a bright spot in their own lives when something horrible happens. No one wants to really see an alligator die of course, how sad. We have now become more enlightened then we were before this happened on this issue of the safety needed around water, alligators and pets. Most importantly this man is safe. He did not lose his hand, he is ok and how lucky his "Bounce" is ok too. Let's rejoice in his well being and learn to respect nature and its boundaries a little more than we already did.

What about the gator,do you think he should be cited for animal cruelty?

I would call Steve a hero and would love to have him as a neighbor. Someone who sees his loved one being eaten alive and risk's his life to save him is a man of action and someone I admire. As for the alligator, I hate to see them culled but we do live among wildlife and if a pet is threatened, action is required. This is still a free country and as stated above, a leash is not required on one's property; I have a feeling that he will be much more proactive in watching Bounce in the future. The biggest danger Steve faces now is infection from being submerged in a retention pond with an open wound. Hopefully he's on strong antibiotics.

Steve is one brave man for saving his dog from the jaws of a gator and thankfully not seriously injured.

If a situation like that would occur to either of my dogs I can only hope to muster up the same courage.

Human v Humane
 

The geographical area of discussion is one with alligators aplenty. The dog owner was no doubt very aware of that fact and that explains the reporters comments of the dog owners conscious awareness and keeping an eye on his pet.

Having said that I wonder what his wife, children, et al would have said had this guy been killed? Do you suppose they would have praised him for his gallant act, an act that would have pre-maturely taken him away from them.

Its one thing to be humane toward creatures its quite another to place their value above that of the human race.

I opine you decide.

Some people just don't get it.

Maybe they could relocate all of the gators in TV to Del Webb, Stonecrest, Solavita etc.???

Not Stonecrest, they'd probably come running down that dirt path.

I was actually thinking more of their natural habitat. Hellooo, this entire place is a man-made illusion, why do we have to have real gators?

I agree.
And I think that you do get it!

I think they should remove all gators over 4 foot from the lakes. What if he was down by the lake weeding and the gator got him? This has happened elsewhere in Florida.

Good idea - site him for animal cruelty - afterall he did jump on the gator's back, grabbed his leg, went down with him, and saved the pup. But he is definitely cruel. Are you kidding me - this guy loves his dog and risked his life to save him. There are some of us that believe a dog is happiest living as a dog - free and roaming his property-and sometimes that comes with a risk. He took that risk and paid the consequenses. Don't him hear complaining so why are you????

Amen!

I am complaining because the gator had to be killed. Hope this discussion will end soon. I think all sides have been heard, and this is why TOTV is so useful.

CFrance...I think gators get killed with regularity. Even if they haven't attacked anything.

Gators are killed all the time in this area. They are used to feed people's family's. I think the season opened up sometime in mid august.

So that's a reason to have one killed, stuffed, and display it as a trophy? I stand by my initial thought--keep your pet out of harm's way and nobody gets hurt.

Dog-kid
 

For all those who simply cant fathom the guy that thinks the behavior of the owner to allow his dog to run loose was not right..and lives right by a pond that could have snakes, gators, etc. REPLACE the word "dog" in this piece with the word, "small child" and see how quickly you would label that "irresponsible" and "neglecting proper supervision." Let's face it folks, the whole thing killed an animal living in its natural habitat because this man neglected to supervise and control the actions of his pet dog. And for this, you call him a hero and give him his 15 minutes of fame...ridiculous! If this was a child, he would be in danger of losing custody.

Bingo

Being from the country gives me a different view of animals and nature. Rules that one must or should follow are greatly different from farm to inner city. Same with people: In the country I knew and respected all my neighbors where in some cases inner city folks do not always even know their neighbors. Now imagine putting us together in The Villages with such different understanding of nature, animals, etc. and you have these kind of variations on just what the right thing to do is and how big a variation they have even for the seemingly exact circumstance.

:shrug:

:beer3:

Well said....

Up here they shoot deer, in season, for venison meat.
To others, who love all animals, that might seem cruel.
Up here it is sport and it's called hunting season when all the guys go away to "camp" in November.

I would be in favor of saving the little dog vs. protecting the alligator.
Again, it could have been that man's grandchild toddling down to the water. Yes, parents should hold their hands.....but it's been known to happen.

I'm sure he feels much safer, for his entire family's welfare, with the alligator gone.

And when the gator lunged onto the property that belongs to the dog’s owner, it too became fair game and paid the price for trespassing.

Still having hard time with this one. I know everyone saying so a nice guy and all,but did anyone see this happen? are there witnesses,he looks what 65 and he jumps on his back hooks back his leg,grabs his tail until the dog is released from his mouth.The guys on television seem much stronger and younger doing this. Did anyone see them take awat a 7ft gator. Did he go to the hospital for injuries, did the dog go to the vets for injuries.Was there somekind of police or accident report or transport report. Who contacted the Orlando paper?Maybe there is a reason the village paper did not. Just because the newpaper writes a story or gives a interview I do not believe everything is Fact.I asked about his screen name GatorGus,was that before or after this happened that he chose that name. This also was his 2nd posts which I wondered.Being a retired teacher I have seen it all,so sometimes I just questioned. First thing I told the Ex about this event ,first thing she says I do not believe it. Do not believe everything on TMZ.

Alligators are opportunist predators. If it was not Steve dog, it would have been someone else’s pet or someone, just a matter of time. This alligator did not care where its food came from, remember Steve was right there. These are the alligators you want to remove, makes living and enjoying the home and yard safer. Alligators have hundreds of years of training in stealth stalking it meal. If you see one it because it don’t care that you see it. When it is hunting food, whatever it has decided will be it meal will never see it.

Now there’s a friendly idea. Got trash, no problem. Just throw it over the fence onto your neighbor’s property.

Yes to all the above, witness called 911. Steve just one of those guys who ages slow. I'm the NGT who removed the gator and the 7 foot report was wrong, the gator was 7 foot 4 inchs. Steve did go to hospital and dog to the vet. And accident report was made with SCSO as wel as FWC. It will be in the Village paper with next print.

You hit the nail right on the head. I assure a dog lease would have not changed a thing. I assure you this gator had been thinking about his dog for some time. His dog is white the color of a gators favorite bird. Once a gator decides he is going to eat something, he going after it. Yes a gator will walk right throw a screen room to get a meal.

Once a gator bites a dog or person it has to be destroyed because it will do it again.

If you relocate a gator, it will find it's way back, much like the dogs and cats we know. Killing them for hide and meat is how the trappers get paid.

Looking forward to the next village sun to read the account. Reading about the witness reaction to seeing this. Also your account of snagging the gator that is 7 ft 4 inches.

Isn't it curious that national news has covered this but the Daily Sun has been mum?