Hannah Conway
75-year-old fought off an alligator after it came out of a pond and grabbed his daughter’s golden retriever, named Osi, on Tuesday morning.
Buddy Ackerman was watching Osi for his daughter while she was on holiday when the alligator attacked their pooch.
Buddy said: “Osi was in the middle of doing his own business when the 7 foot, 7 inch alligator grabbed onto his backside.
“Osi was squealing a good bit when the thing grabbed him.
“Me, I’m a nervous wreck, I go up and slip and fall on my rear end, and the two of us are tugging. Alligator is going one way, I’m going the other.
“I don’t know what would have happened with people with little Pekingese or something running around. I guess we’d say goodbye.”
Buddy kicked the alligator in the snout twice and managed to release Osi from the bite of the gator.
Jody, Ackerman’s daughter, was grateful for her Father’s actions with Osi.
Osi was later taken to read the sign that will warn him that alligators live the water.
“My father is our hero, Osi and I are so very grateful that nobody was hurt.”
Jody Ackerman
Trappers came out the day after the attack and removed the alligator from the pond.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have told residents to be cautious with their pets around ponds.
Dogs and cats are similar in size to the natural prey of alligators, which is why residents have been warned.
They are asking residents to not allow their pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission want the message to be taken away is to not swim with your dogs near water where alligators may be resting, it is highly, highly dangerous.