Dogs love to chase balls and other objects that their owners throw. One dog and his owner got more than they bargained for while playing fetch at a local Tampa, Florida, park when a large alligator that tried to eat the man’s dog.

Going for a walk

The dog’s owner, Blair Hayes, had decided to take his dog, a black Lab named George, for a walk down to the local park. The two had been taking the walk for over two years and would play fetch with a ball Hayes would bring along.

As they arrived at a nearby pond, Hayes threw the ball in for George to retrieve.

Haye’s dog is attacked by an alligator

That was when Hayes got the scare of his life. A large, six-to-nine-foot alligator appeared out of the tall grass and entered the water. As the large gator swam toward George, Hayes tried to call him to come to him. As George reached the shore, the alligator grabbed him by his back leg and pulled him under.

“I thought, I just lost my dog, and I thought about going in to get him,” Haynes told FOX 13 News. “All of a sudden he came up and was really motoring for the shore.”

George was somehow able to survive the attack

Somehow, George had survived the initial attack. Grabbing George, Hayes rushed him to the vet for treatment. George ended up getting 20 stitches and a drain inserted, but other than that and a few minor cuts, he was relatively OK. As for Hayes, he took an important lesson away from the experience.

“Follow the rules, keep a leash on your dog in the park. That’s the only way they’re guaranteed to be safe,” he said.

Hayes feels more than a little guilty for George’s attack

Hayes also blames himself for his dog’s injury in part because he ignored the county’s warnings to not take your dog off their leash. The county also warns its residents about local ponds and lakes. With alligators native to Florida, residents need to remain aware of their presence.

How to protect your pet from an alligator attack

If you and your pet ever come across an alligator in the wild, there are some steps you can take to hopefully prevent an attack. Avoid the water at dawn or dusk, which is the time that alligators tend to come out to feed. If you or your pet come under attack, make as much commotion as you can. Hopefully, this will frighten them away.

Your best bet is to avoid areas that are known to harbor alligators, especially during courtship and mating season, which runs from April until September. During this season, alligators are more aggressive and are more prone to attack. By remaining vigilant, you can hopefully avoid an attack.

You can watch the video about this harrowing attack below.

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Source: FOX 13 News – Tampa Bay

H/T: I Love My Dog So Much, Fox 13 News, Palmetto Wildlife Extractors