Six-Foot Alligator Nabbed; Neighborhood Dog Missing

WPLG-TV South Florida | June 24, 2002

[Shermy]

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- A South Florida trapper found and captured a six-foot alligator in a back yard today, but a neighborhood dog is still missing. "The alligator was found earlier today just wandering this neighborhood," said trapper Todd Hardwick (pictured, left). "This is the busy season for alligators. When the rains come, the alligators come. It's nothing to be alarmed about. It's just part of living in South Florida."

But that's a part of the South Florida lifestyle that Elaine Kelley would rather do without. The gator was found on her property this morning.

"It scare me out of my wits ... I don't know how I'm going to face my back yard from this day because that is scary," Kelley said.

Hardwick says the gator was in search of food and may have found something.

"He very obviously located something. There's a large animal in this alligator's stomach," said Hardwick.

The gator will be taken to a local processing center where the contents of its stomach will be examined. Some neighbors think the animal may have eaten a local dog.

"I'm very upset. That dog has become a part of our family for four or five years now," said Evet Clarke, who hasn't seen her Chihuahua for a couple days. "We just let him out for awhile ... and when he didn't show up I said, 'That's it. He's not coming back.'"

[Shermy]

Alligator ping.

[Corin Stormhands]

Glad I only have to worry about a stray deer or two...

[Rodney King]

Poor Alligator. He should get a medal for every yappy littly dog that he eats. If you are not going to have a real dog, get a cat.

[mhking]

[burp!]

[southernnorthcarolina]

A Korean gator?

[AppyPappy]

YAP!YAP!YAP!YAP!...CHOMP!!! mpfff..mpff..mpff

[NautiNurse]

There's a large animal in this alligator's stomach," said Hardwick.

Chihuahua--large animal?

[genefromjersey]

"Glorioski, Sandy, nothing to see here ! Let's move along !"
" Arf ! Arf ! .....Yike ! "
" Sandy ? Sandy ? "
"Punjab ! Did you throw your blanket over Sandy again ? "

"Urp !"

"Punjab !! You should at least excuse youself !"
"Where are you hiding, Punjab ? Behind that old log ??"

[Kennesaw]

A Korean gator?

LOL! (I just got it)

[Mike-o-Matic]

As opposed to a chipmunk, squirrel, or a mouse, I reckon.

[scholar]

I don't know how I'm going to face my back yard from this day because that is scary," Kelley said.

When I lived in Denver, there was a lady in Littleton who found a cougar lounging on her picnic table one morning. Some kids right in Denver were playing with what turned out to be hatchling rattlesnakes and coyotes were eating small pets at a prodigious rate.

Get over it or move lady!!

[Mike-o-Matic]

   eating small pets at a prodigious rate

<Homer>
  mmmm... small pets.
</Homer>

This thread is fun! Too bad it's at some innocent pet's expense.... ah, well. *shrug*

[goodieD]

Doggone!

[mamelukesabre]

If the dog was stupid enough to get close to it's mouth, then he got what he deserved.

Call it dog eugenics. The gator will improve the local dog gene pool. Hahaha

[NautiNurse]

Hey Mr. Alligator! I can open my mouth and smile just like you!

[mamelukesabre]

Yum....looks tastey....CHOMP!

[scholar]

Too bad it's at some innocent pet's expense.... ah, well. *shrug*

Sorry, don't mean to make it sound like I don't care about someone's pet--I have pets of my own. However, even here in NW Indiana we have a goodly number of coyotes. Cats and small dogs are especially vulnerable, but people pay no attention to the warnings to keep their pets in at night.

[jz638]

poor gator, Thai food and mexican food both do a number on ones innards. I'd imagine that eating a mexican dog is the worst of both worlds.

[Sub-Driver]

Here FiFi!