Heroic Dog Mom Fights Off Alligator to Save Beloved Pet

A Tampa woman risked her life to save her dog during a terrifying alligator attack.

Kimberly Spencer was walking her nine-year-old rescue dog, Kona, when a six-foot alligator lunged from the water and clamped down on the dog. “All of a sudden I heard something and I saw the eyes in the water—it turned and came straight at us,” she told WFLA.

With no time to think, Kimberly jumped on the gator’s back and fought to free Kona from its jaws. “Her whole front portion, including under her arm, was in its mouth,” she said. “I jumped on its back and tried to pry its jaws open.”

Miraculously, she succeeded. Despite deep bite wounds, Kona is expected to make a full recovery. Kimberly also needed stitches but said she wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

“I couldn’t live with myself if I let her be taken away,” she said.

Wildlife officials later captured and removed the alligator.