[Patty55]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

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.

I think you're right, I think this whole thing is a CONSPIRACY, all planned so that Bounce can collect frequent flyer miles.

[bike42]

I hope Steve (and everyone else with dogs near ponds) has learned from this and called the invisible (electric) fence installer. The water's edge is at least 20 feet from his back property line. The invisible fence will be installed just inside his property line. His smart Westie will learn in no time that she does not go near the water. The dog still needs supervision because critters can come up to the house -- but there's a lot less danger if the dog is not near the water. Just because the one alligator is gone doesn't mean it can't happen again.

[ilovetv]

"Maybe they want to discourage alligator wrestling."

This could actually be a goal of not publishing this "heroic" story in the Daily Sun.

Remember, so-called adults were stupid enough to tell 10-12-year-old kids--leaning over the 3-ft-high rope at Lake Sumter Landing so they could see the giant gator--that they need not worry about falling in nor about a gator jumping up and chomping their hand off because "it's just a mechanical alligator"!!!!!!!! We SAW these kids who believed that craziness and no parent was around supervising/correcting them.

There were also residents/visitors who were stupid enough to want their toddlers to experience the buffalo as if they were in a petting zoo, and they put the kids inside the fence with a mamma buffalo with new calf to protect!!!!!!

I think there ARE people who would think they could wrestle an alligator, for some free golf balls!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

"Maybe they want to discourage alligator wrestling."

This could actually be a goal of not publishing this "heroic" story in the Daily Sun.

Remember, so-called adults were stupid enough to tell 10-12-year-old kids--leaning over the 3-ft-high rope at Lake Sumter Landing so they could see the giant gator--that they need not worry about falling in nor about a gator jumping up and chomping their hand off because "it's just a mechanical alligator"!!!!!!!! We SAW these kids who believed that craziness and no parent was around supervising/correcting them.

There were also residents/visitors who were stupid enough to want their toddlers to experience the buffalo as if they were in a petting zoo, and they put the kids inside the fence with a mamma buffalo with new calf to protect!!!!!!

I think there ARE people who would think they could wrestle an alligator, for some free golf balls!

At the risk of sounding like an old lady. (which I guess I am) This is where your ounce of prevention would be worth your pound of cure.

And all this discussing.

[jblum315]

Won't Bounce be scared to go in the lanai with that thing there?

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by jblum315

Won't Bounce be scared to go in the lanai with that thing there?

It does send a message to all the other gators...DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!

[Barefoot]

We back on an environmental area/golf course. We have two small ponds about 150 feet from the house. Having two dogs, I was skeptical about having any water nearby. Before moving in, we talked to neighbors who had lived on the street for six years. They said they'd never seen a gator, the ponds aren't big enough.

We moved in and got invisible fencing for the dogs. I always check the ponds for gators sunning themselves before I let the dogs out. When the dogs are outside, I always supervise them. Two years ago, there was a gator sunning himself by one of the ponds. The following day it disappeared.

The moral of this story: It's Florida .... where there is water, there can well be gators. They travel through the irrigation pipes. Sometimes they walk by people's houses, travelling from one pond to another. Be careful, they move with great bursts of speed.

P.S. Thanks to Firewalker for his interesting comments about gators.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Thanks to Firewalker for his interesting comments about gators.

Now all you have to worry about is stepping out onto your lanai in the darklight while 'barefoot' and not having a gator chomp on you!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

Now all you have to worry about is stepping out onto your lanai in the darklight while 'barefoot' and not having a gator chomp on you!

I know you're kidding, but I do worry about gators at night, not chomping on my bare feet, but chomping on my 10 lb dog. Although I assume the presence of my big dog might be a deterrent. But perhaps they'd just consider my 70 lb dog to be a Big Mac. Also, I assume gators sleep at night? Eeeek, maybe they hunt when it's dark. At any rate, I never let my dogs out at night in the back yard, just at the front of the house. As you can tell, I'm paranoid about gators.

[Nipper]

"Couldn't agree with you more. The man may have an invisible fence for all you know so stop it already with the leash laws. Also he chose to have the dog loose and faced the consequences - didn't ask anyone else to handle the situation - literally jumped right in. So give him credit for saving his best friend and risking his own life to save him and stop with the judgement and criticsm. I say congratulations on a job well done - and who knows that gator may have grabbed a child next time."


I couldn't agree with you more. Bravo!!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Nipper

"Couldn't agree with you more. The man may have an invisible fence for all you know so stop it already with the leash laws. Also he chose to have the dog loose and faced the consequences - didn't ask anyone else to handle the situation - literally jumped right in. So give him credit for saving his best friend and risking his own life to save him and stop with the judgement and criticsm. I say congratulations on a job well done - and who knows that gator may have grabbed a child next time."
I couldn't agree with you more. Bravo!!

In my books, he is a hero. And Bounce probably feel the same way!

[CaptJohn]

Barefoot, this link from the Univ of Florida may answer some of your questions, like yes, they do feed at night!
WEC203/UW230: Living with Alligators: A Florida Reality

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

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.

That dam gator ought to have read the "no trespassing sign posted by the homeowner and understood the rules. It didn't and it paid the price. Really! Really!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

Barefoot, this link from the Univ of Florida may answer some of your questions, like yes, they do feed at night!
WEC203/UW230: Living with Alligators: A Florida Reality

Most of that information is frightening, including the fact that they swallow their prey whole. They even eat deer and hogs, and climb fences.

I love animals, but gators are definitely not on my favorite's list. I know they are God's creatures, but the only way I want to be close to a gator is in a wallet.

[gomoho]

amen - can I hear an AMEN brothers and sisters?!?!?!