Shocking video shows Florida woman hand-feeding an ALLIGATOR she named 'Puppy'

Daily Mail UK ^ | 4-1-2014 | Joshua Gardner

[smokingfrog]

A recently revealed video shows a Florida woman's bizarre attempts to train a wild alligator she nicknamed Puppy Puppy.

Residents of a senior residence community in Port St. Lucie say they would watch in horror as the unnamed neighbor routinely fed the beast from the edge of a backyard lake and flailed wildly when it came too close.

While they once watched the woman's strange behavior from afar, neighbors say the situation came to a head when the gator scrambled up to a patio hoping to be fed a steak from the grill.

'She would bring food back and forth and feed him and he would hang out there all day with her,' Lynette Miller told WPTV.

Mostly, neighbors said the woman would feed the alligator cereal. But whatever it was, the animal liked it.

'She would yell at him and he would come,' Miller said.

According to Miller, the woman would lull the gator with low tones, until it came too close. When it became aggressive, the woman yelled at the animal.

And video shows she would also kick, flail her legs and scream at the gator if it became aggressive.

It was almost like the gator was her pet, but one capable of ripping her throat out at any moment.

Neighbor Grace LaPlace remembers a particularly bizarre encounter with the woman.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Not that much different from owning a pit bull...
And this differs from owning a pit bull how?

I guess it must be so, eh!

I guess that the white dog is just savouring a taste for later, eh?

Let me introduce you to Sergeant Stubby, a WW1 veteran, Pit Bull cross, who passed away in 1926. I guess you believe that he was 'not much different' from an alligator. You may be right, but I don't think the men of the 102 Regiment of the 26 Division would agree with you. Sgt. Stubby learned to warn members of his regiment, of poison gas attacks and incoming shells, giving them time to don their equipment and seek what shelter they could. He also located men in the no-mans land between the trenches, saving many GI's lives. But of course, he was not that much different than an alligator, right? Of course such a dangerous beast should not have 'endangered' soldiers' lives, in spite of however many lives he saved by warning of incoming shells!

A pit bull, like any dog can be trained as they have a much more complex brain than an alligator. An alligator cannot be trained, other than to get food, even if it is the hand that feeds them. Are their many 'less than men' who train a Pit Bull to be vicious? Yes, likely to make up for, shall we say, 'short comings'!

Are there well-trained and well-behaved Pit Bulls? Of course! Of Michael Vick's 49 fighting dogs, one was euthanized for aggression and one was euthanized because of poor health. Twenty-five were fostered and 22 were sent to an animal sanctuary because of aggression toward other dogs, not people. Seven have Canine Good Citizen Certificates and three are therapy dogs in hospitals and children’s literacy programs. It is people like Vick that should spend years in similar accommodations as where they kept their dogs. Thugs that train a dog to make up for their 'short comings' should be the ones punished, not the dogs, a punishment that acts as an example to others, not to train your dog to be a killer. Unfortunately, few of these thugs know how to train a dog, merely teach it to be aggressive.

[Justa]

Psst, residential neighborhoods are not analogous with WWI trench warfare.

The fact the breed did well in trench warfare indicates the breed is particularly well suited for it. Next time there’s trench warfare we’ll consider having one around. That’s where they belong, in trenches, not in neighborhoods with children.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

And here's a link to an update on the Vick dogs.

[kanawa]

Kudos for trying to educate what appear to be congenital morons.

[Justa]

“...congenital morons”

Really? My family has been attacked by dogs on two occasions. Both times it was a put bull off the leash. Was my 3 year old daughter who was walking on the sidewalk in front of the house a threat to the pit bull across the street?

Are you saying it’s moronic to be victimized by this breed or just complain about it?

Perhaps your pro-attack-dog activism is proof of you being a congenital asshole.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Psst, residential neighborhoods are not analogous with WWI trench warfare.

Very true. How about Georgetown University Law Center, which he attended with his owner, Private John Robert Conroy? Is that closer? How about being the Georgetown Hoyas mascot, chasing a football around the field during half-time and meeting VIPs at the games? How about meeting with Presidents Wilson, Coolidge and Harding? Are those situations closer to 'residential neighbourhoods'? Where do you suppose he lived when he wasn't being a celebrity? With Conroy, at his residence.

In 1918, Stubby was badly injured by a grenade, and sent eventually to a Red Cross recovery hospital where, when he recovered enough to move, he spent his time socialising with the wounded and the nurses. But yes, being a Pit Bull, a 'killing machine', let's look at his 'record'. How many did he kill or maul at the front and in the hospital? How many soldiers in the trenches did he maul? The answer is zero, though he did capture a German spy in the Argonne, all by himself and we do not know if he bit the spy, so maybe one. How many did he kill or maul after the war? Zero.

A VERY dangerous Pit Bull indeed! Speaking of dangerous Pit Bulls, lets not forget the several dogs that played 'Petey' the pup in the Our Gang and The Little Rascals series.
The injury toll from these dogs attacking the kids? Zero.

The point being, the breed is known as the American Pit Bull Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier , and it was a family dog, known for its loyalty and love of children, as witnessed by 'Petey', above. Unfortunately, idiots have gotten hold of APTBs and did not train them properly, focusing on their natural aggression to other dogs and turning it against humans. It is a question of 'nurture' rather than 'nature'. Here is a quote from the United Kennel Club concerning the breed's characteristics (emphasis is mine):
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.

Don't blame the dog for the idiot would-be 'gangsta' that has to make up for his inadequacies, using a tough looking dog! There are many ABPTs and crosses that are nothing but 'love sponges', eating up all the love you can give them. I know because I have a cross. I did not intend to get one, but I have one now. At five years of age, she is still goofy like a puppy, loving nothing more than to lick my face and play with her toys.

[BuffaloJack]

You can’t fix stupid, and this woman is definitely stupid.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Thank you. I cannot understand how this breed, America’s breed, if you will, went from being so loved to being so despised! From the results with Vick’s dogs, it should be obvious that it is a question of ‘nurture’, how the dog was raised or trained, rather than ‘nature’. More than half have been adopted, and some even work as service dogs with kids! The others are all doing well, though they live at a retreat where they have experienced dog handlers. I find it amazing how well they have recovered, considering the hell they went through.

While I have grave concerns about government intrusion in many aspects of life, there needs to be some control over who can get a dog and how they train them. The ‘gangstas’ and ‘wannabes’ should not, under any circumstances, be allowed to own a dog. If there were severe sentences for such people owning a dog, perhaps it would sink in to other people, to train the dog properly.

[Jack Hydrazine]

At the end of the video the journo says other people at this same lake community are starting to feed the alligators, too. It’s all fun and games until someone’s arm or leg gets ripped off.

If Obama voters are this stupid don’t call the law on the individual. Just let nature take its course.

[Age of Reason]

it should be obvious that it is a question of ‘nurture’, how the dog was raised or trained, rather than ‘nature’

Believing pit bulls are not dangerous with the right training, is the first sign of an irresponsible pit bull owner.

[Age of Reason]

What nonsense.

“Petey” the Little Rascal dog, is supposed to somehow prove that pit bulls haven’t killed people? Lions in the zoo can be cute, too.

I also like how in the same breath pit bull defenders try to “reason” with those of us who are “misguided” about the danger of pit bulls, and then defend the breed by anthropomorphizing its behavior.

For example, by telling us bedtime stories of how some pit bull “saved” his owner or owner’s family by chasing and biting a criminal, when in fact the dog just got lucky by biting a burglar when it could just as well have been the milkman, as far as the dog itself is concerned.

[ZULU]

I read her biography years ago and it left a big impression on me. She was an amazing woman. And what she was able to demonstrate was also amazing.

She “trained” her collection of crocodiles and alligators so each one would recognize their name and come on call to be fed.

She “tamed” cobras by holding out her extended hand, palm open to receive the cobra's strike. Cobras, unlike vipers, have a smaller gape and are incapable of biting a large flat surface like an open palm. By repeating this again and again with individual cobras she habituated them to the fact that a) trying to bite her wasn't accomplishing anything, and b) she was not a physical threat. She was able to do this as a cobra's strike trajectory can be accurately anticipated by a person familiar with the way they move. They rear up and always strike down in a predictable arching trajectory. Vipers and pit-vipers on the other hand, can adjust their strikes to hit targets at varying ranges.

Among reptiles, crocodilians and cobras have the highest levels of intelligence. They can learn, and alter their behavior patterns with learning.

The real reason Wylie died was when that story was being written, the flash of the camera was unexpected and she drew her palm back from proper alignment with the strike and the cobra bit her between her fingers.

Needless to say, I would not advise that anyone attempt to emulate Ms. Wylie's achievements. They would be gambling with their lives - especially with the cobras and large crocodilians.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

But of course! You'll have to contact the United Kennel Club and correct them on their error. Under their 'Official UKC Breed Standard', quoted and linked in post # 26, it states that: "APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children." It goes on further: "The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable." But of course, you know better than the second oldest kennel club in America, the second largest in the world!

You might consider a change in your handle. 'Reason' would suggest that the kennel club is more expert than you, at characterising a breed of dog.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Where exactly have I claimed that 'pit bulls haven't killed people'? NO WHERE! Typical of a fanatic, you misquote me, in your hatred of APBTs. What YOU are spouting, THAT is nonsense!

You still claim that it is the 'nature' of the dog to be a killer, rather than how it was raised, or 'nurtured'. A study by Raghavan, published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal in June 2008 showed that of 28 dog-bite-related fatalities reported in Canada from 1990–2007, only one was from a Pit Bull. The study also stated that, "A higher proportion of sled dogs and, possibly, mixed-breed dogs in Canada than in the United States caused fatalities, as did multiple dogs rather than single dogs. Free-roaming dog packs, reported only from rural communities, caused most on-reserve fatalities."

Several studies determined that pit bull owners, and owners of other "vicious" or "high risk" breeds such as Akita, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, and Wolf-mix, are more likely to have criminal convictions and are more likely to display antisocial behaviors. A 2006 study compared owners of "high risk" dogs to owners of "low risk" dogs. "High risk" dogs included “vicious” dogs by breed (e.g., pit bulls) or “vicious” actions (e.g., any dog that had bitten, attacked, or killed a person or other animal). The study determined that "high risk" dog owners had nearly 10 times as many criminal convictions than did "low risk" dog owners. A 2009 study and a followup 2012 study generally supported these findings. Compare and contrast that with the recover/re-homing of so many of Vick's dogs, noted in post # 23.

Since so many of Vick's dogs, born and bred to fight, have been rehabilitated and since the studies quoted above show that "high risk" dog owners had nearly 10 times as many criminal convictions as did "low risk" dog owners, reason would suggest that the 'gangsta' and 'wannabe' types purchase these dogs to terrorise others. This further suggests that they train these dogs to be vicious, rather than a 'natural' viciousness to people. But 'reason' is not how you operate, is it?

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah, I went looking for that pic too. Betty White was great in that flick.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Almost any critter can learn and be trained.

[smokingfrog]

What’s for dinner?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Yellowflies, he preferred them still wiggling. For most of a summer if I sat down on the porch steps he would come running or drop from the porch rafters to my shoulder. I eventually worked him up to sitting on my knee while I smacked flies for him.

I can't help but think that this was counter to instinct, that he was exploring and learning.

[Texas Songwriter]

“Lake Placid” -

[chae]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3140271/posts