Lakeland commissioner saves dog from alligator's jaws

LAKELAND, Fla. — A fishing guide and Lakeland city commissioner saved a dog named Dixie from an alligator's jaws while cleaning up after Hurricane Irma.

Bill Read said his neighbor's dog got through some open gates and headed for the lake in his backyard Tuesday.

A local newspaper reports Read saw a ripple, and then a gator. The gator wrapped its jaws around the dog and rolled Dixie underwater.

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A few seconds later, the dog emerged, and when Read saw the gator, he chucked a rock at the reptile, hitting it on its side.

It snapped at the rock and slowed, buying Dixie a few precious seconds. He hurled another brick at the gator as the dog swam to shore.

Dixie suffered scrapes and two puncture wounds on her side.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group