77-Year-Old Olympic Weightlifter Rescues Dog by Wresting Alligator
Most people would consider age 77 to be old. You picture a 77-year-old man, probably in a rocking chair, listening to Fox News on the radio and getting ready to have a little nap. If that's what you envision when you think of a 77-year-old man then you've obviously never met Moore Haven's Art Auwaerter, who started his day by letting his dog Rodger out and ended up saving his dog from an alligator.
By prying the alligator's mouth open.
Art Auwaerter isn't just your average senior, because he also happens to be an Olympic weightlifter who still competes. He's also the oldest in one in Florida.
I love how he describes his encounter with the alligator, "He went in the river,” said Auwaerter. “A few seconds later, I see a big splash. Oh my God, I know what’s happening.”
Related: Florida Man Describes the Horror of Finding Alligator Attacking His Chocolate Lab
WINK news interviewed Auwaerter who said, "He’s gonna kill him. And I could not let that happen. So I ran down the bank. You don’t think in those situations, you just act,” said Auwaerter. If your kid was being attacked, you would not stop to think about it, you would do whatever you had to do to save him.”
So Auwaerter did what any other dog owner would do, which was jump on the alligator's back and pry his mouth open which left him with a trip to the emergency room where the doctor he saw at the emergency room told if the gator’s bite was just two inches away, it could have cut his artery and killed him.
Oh who are we kidding? No one would have wrestled an alligator, Auwaerter is an absolute legend! The next time your own grandpa complains about having to go on his daily walk you tell him this story!
Related: Alligator Enters Louisiana Home Through the Doggie Door Like It Owns the Joint
It's also so sweet what Auwaerter said when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came out and put the alligator down.
"I wish they would have relocated him, but I guess they have to shoot them if they attack the person. I attacked him first. I mean, of course, he shouldn’t have attacked my dog.”
Steps to Take if Your Dog is Attacked by an Alligator
Depending on where you live, chances are you're probably pretty safe from your dog being attacked by an alligator, but if you do live in an area where alligators are present (like Florida) here are some safety precautions you can take.
Always keep your dog on leash, especially when walking near bodies of water where alligators have been sighted.
Don't let your pup swim in these waters, and keep an ear out for hissing sounds.
If your dog is attacked by an alligator, and you aren't an Olympic weight lifter like our hero above, your best bet is to get away as fast as possible. “If an alligator grabs your pet there’s not much you can do. Do not go into the water after that alligator," ZooMiami Wildlife expert Ron Magill told NBCMiami.
Here's hoping you and your dog never encounter a gator while on a walk!
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