Photo: Darrien Land / 500px / Getty Images
Wesley Chapel, FL - A Wesley Chapel family is shaken after their rescue dog nearly lost its life in a backyard gator attack that has left the community rattled.
On a recent evening, Zeus, a German Shepherd, exited through his doggy door as usual when an alligator allegedly broke through the backyard fence and grabbed him by the neck before dragging him into a nearby pond.
Family members raced outside with flashlights only to find Zeus struggling for his life, still attached to the reptile.
Their shouts prompted the alligator to release him, allowing the exhausted dog to swim back toward safety.
Covered in blood, Zeus returned to shore in critical condition.
He suffered a fractured jaw that shifted out of place along with multiple puncture wounds around his neck.
His head was nearly engulfed by the gator’s powerful jaws, leading the veterinarian to express amazement that he could survive the ordeal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission deployed trappers to locate the alligator but so far the animal remains at large.
One family member expressed fear for their seven year old sister, wondering if the alligator would have shown the same aggression toward a child.
Zeus has undergone multiple surgeries and is now in recovery.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover mounting medical bills and has received rapid community support.
Wildlife officials in the region are advising residents to secure any pet access points and reinforce fencing around ponds or water features to prevent similar dangerous encounters in the future.