Typically, alligator stories involve reptiles attacking humans. This one is about a search and rescue dog, a K9.
While on a rescue mission in Florida, an alligator bit an eight-year-old service dog.
Dutch, a Peace River K9 Search and Rescue (PRSAR) member, was attacked on March 5 while searching for a missing person. The alligator attacked him in the right shoulder.
According to PRSAR president Michael Hadsell, Dutch’s shoulder was severed to the bone, and the alligator’s fang missed the dog’s lung by inches. Dutch, a five-year search and rescue veteran, is trained to find both human remains and living individuals in the water.
PRSAR, based in southwest Florida, claims on its website that it works to assist local, state, federal, military, private, and family members in the search for missing people. A coastal search, according to Hadsell, is one of their responsibilities. Many of these searches take place along the edges of marshes and swamps, frequently entering alligator habitats in Florida.
The incident occurred while Dutch was patrolling near the water. The attack caught the team off guard. Hadsell stated that no alligators or activity had been observed in the area that day. They did see a four-foot alligator earlier in the week and believe it was the attacker.
The average length of an American alligator is 11.2 feet for males and 8.2 feet for females, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Regardless, any alligator longer than four feet is considered a threat to property, pets, and humans.
Although alligator bites do not always result in death, they can be extremely dangerous. Dutch’s handlers were on the lookout for infection because reptile bites can cause diseases.
Dutch, according to Hadsell, was allowed to return home after seeing the veterinarian and is receiving adequate care.