TAMPA TRIBUNE (Florida) 05 November 10 Terrier survives gator's jaws (Samara Sodos and Jos Patio Girona)
Tampa: Lizabeth, a Jack Russell terrier, was on her afternoon walk Thursday on the banks of the Hillsborough River when her owner heard splashing.
"When I looked real close, the gator had her in his mouth," said Tom Martino.
Martino, who has a concealed weapons permit, pulled out his handgun and started shooting at the water around the alligator.
The gator, which measured 6 feet, 4 inches long, wrestled Lizabeth in the water and then let her go.
Using a rod, Martino was able to rescue his dog, then performed CPR on her.
"She coughed up a bunch of water," said Martino, who had never performed CPR on a dog. "I was scared. That's my little baby."
Nine-year-old Lizabeth is in critical but stable condition and is being cared for at the Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa.
At around 7 p.m., a trapper contracted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured the alligator.
Terrier survives gator's jaws