Florida dog mom Kim Spencer pries open raging gator's mouth to rescue her pooch
Share and Follow

During her usual evening walk, a brave woman from Florida fearlessly leaped onto an alligator and forced its mouth open to rescue her cherished dog from being harmed.

Kim Spencer and her pooch, Kona, were on an evening walk in Tampa, Fla. when a 6-and-a-half-foot alligator emerged from a nearby lake and started heading their way, according to FOX 13.

Spencer tried to pull Kona away, but the ferocious predator was too fast and quickly caught up to them.

“I saw the eyes. I saw it turning itself around towards us, and I started pulling Kona away, saying, ‘Let’s go.’ But she’s a really strong dog,” Spencer told the outlet.

“She’s facing it, it’s facing her, and it suddenly jumped at her and got her.”

Kona’s entire head and right shoulder were inside the swamp beast’s mouth when the pet parent “stopped thinking” and risked her life to save her four-legged friend.

“[I] jumped on it, straddled it, as ladylike as that is, and was trying to pry its jaws open,” Spencer added.

The scuffle didn’t last long as Spencer pried the gator’s jaws wide enough to free her furry friend.

“We just got lucky because it ran,” Spencer said. “Just as quickly as it ran after us it went right back in the water and I got up and we were out of there.”

Both survived without significant injuries, but they did get wounded during the incident and both received stitches for their wounds.

The married dog owner has bandages on both hands while her precious pup has to wear a cone.

“We’re empty nesters, she’s my baby, so I wasn’t ready to take on that mindset that she’s an animal versus a human,” Spencer said.

Spencer said she and Kona — who she rescued 8 years ago — had been walking in the Westwood Lakes neighborhood when the gator launched its attack, according to Bay News 9.

Last September in Fort Myers – around 120 miles south of Tampa – an angry seven-foot, three-inch alligator attacked 84-year-old Dolores Boppel while she was on a walk with her dog near a pond.

The pooch was unharmed, but the dangerous animal took a “chunk” out of her leg and sent Boppel to the hospital.

In 2022, Eric Merda was swimming in Myakka City, Fla., when a gator took off his arm and left him stranded for three days in a swamp.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimated that the state has 1.3 million alligators “of every size” and reported 11 alligator bites in 2024 and 23 in 2023, one of which was fatal.

A majority of the bites from the swamp creatures result in “major” injuries.

Alligators “prefer to go after prey they can overpower easily” and are naturally scared of humans but “may lose that fear when people feed them,” the commission claimed.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Father who pleaded guilty to leaving his child in hot car found dead

Tragic Incident in Texas: Man Fatally Shoots Three Colleagues Before Turning Gun on Himself

In a tragic incident in San Antonio, Texas, a 21-year-old man opened…
Angry customer throws hot coffee on McDonald's employee over cancelled breakfast order in Saginaw, Michigan

Shocking Incident: McDonald’s Employee Scalded by Furious Customer in Saginaw Over Breakfast Mishap

An infuriated patron hurled a steaming cup of coffee at a McDonald’s…
Jay Leno makes touching remark about caring for wife Mavis

Jay Leno Shares Heartfelt Insight on Devotion to Wife Mavis: A Love Story Beyond Fame

Jay Leno recently shared heartfelt thoughts on supporting his wife, Mavis Leno,…
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue dies at 84

Legendary NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Passes Away at 84: A Look Back at His Impactful Legacy

Paul Tagliabue, who helmed the NFL as commissioner for 17 years, passed…
Florida military families told to take down early Christmas decorations to comply with standards at Tyndall Air Force Base

Tyndall Air Force Base Enforces Holiday Decoration Guidelines for Florida Military Families

Military families residing in base housing in Florida have been instructed to…
Senate leader eyes potential shutdown deal but there's no guarantee of success

Senate Leader Explores Possible Shutdown Solution Amid Uncertainty

In a rare Sunday session, the Senate convened as Republican leaders indicated…
USDA tells states SNAP will be fully funded during appeal

USDA Confirms Full SNAP Funding Amid Appeal: What It Means for Millions of Americans

In a significant policy update, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)…
Ali Larter defends Taylor Sheridan from criticism for 'Landman' character

Ali Larter Stands Firm: Defends Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ Character Amidst Rising Criticism

Ali Larter is coming to the defense of Taylor Sheridan, the creative…