Overview

• Danie Wright says she struck the alligator in the eye until it released her 4-month-old puppy, Dax, during a backyard walk.
• The reptile lunged from a stagnant, water-moss-covered creek and reportedly came about 15 feet out of the water.
• Wright suffered bite injuries to her arm during the struggle and is recovering, while the puppy was unharmed.
• Licensed trappers and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers captured and removed the approximately 5-foot alligator from the property.
• Wright urged pet owners to stay vigilant near water, as the FWC reports about eight unprovoked human bites per year and warns that pets can resemble natural prey.