Share
Lifestyle & Human Interest

75-Year-Old Man Fights Off Alligator with Bare Hands To Save Life of Beloved Golden Retriever

Share

When someone asks you to watch their dog for them while they’re out of town, it can be almost as serious as if they’re asking you to watch their child.

There are some pretty even-keeled owners who will bring their pup to you along with its tub of food, bed and maybe a favorite toy or two, and then there are those owners who bring every earthly possession ever bestowed upon their dog along with an hour-by-hour breakdown of the dog’s schedule that they expect you to follow religiously.

In either case, it would be devastating if anything happened to your furry charge. There’s a bit of stress and pressure that can creep in as the days pass, especially if you’re especially close to the person whose dog you’re watching, because you don’t want the dog or your relationship with its owner to be damaged.

That was likely the case for Buddy Ackerman of Palm Harbor, Florida, who was watching a dog that belonged to his daughter — (potential) double whammy.

Perhaps that’s why, when disaster struck, Ackerman struck back.

Trending:
Prince Harry Named in Major Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Rapper

As Ackerman headed out Tuesday morning for a potty walk with Osi the dog, neither dog nor man expected the danger lurking nearby. As Osi squatted to do his business, he was interrupted by a splash.

“All of a sudden, I see the water rippling right along in here — almost seemed like an explosion,” Ackerman told WFTS-TV.

The dog, understandably startled and in pain, started making some noise as the 7-foot-7-inch reptile latched on.

“He was squealing a good bit when the thing grabbed him,” Ackerman continued.

“Me, I’m a nervous wreck, I go up and slip and fall on my rear end, and the two of us are tugging,” he said. “Alligator is going one way, I’m going the other.”

They played tug-of-war for a while before Ackerman kicked the alligator in the nose, prompting it to let go of the poor golden retriever.

“The thing opened its mouth real wide and backed up a little,” Ackerman explained.



Osi isn’t too much the worse for wear and while sore, he surprisingly has no major injuries. Thanks to his size, he avoided being breakfast.

Related:
Tired? It's Probably Your Pet's Fault, Study Shows

“I don’t know what would have happened with people with little Pekingese or something running around,” Ackerman said. “I guess we’d say goodbye.”



“My father is our hero, Osi and I are so very grateful that nobody was hurt,” Jody Ackerman, Osi’s owner, told WFTS-TV.

Jody also said that after the attack she took Osi to read the alligator warning signs so that there would be no repeat episode.

The day after the attack, the alligator was removed, but officials are still warning owners to give potential alligator habitats a wide berth with their pups — a good rule of thumb no matter whose dog you’re walking.

Liftable, a section of The Western Journal, has reached out to Jody Ackerman for comment but has not yet received a response. We will update this article if and when we do.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , ,
Share

Conversation