2008.09.30
Dog owner saves pooch from shark
I’d like to think I would do anything to save one of my pets from danger. I could only hope I would be brave enough to punch out a shark.
According to this article from The Miami Herald, that’s what Greg LeNoir had to do to save his dog Jake from the jaws of what he believed was a bull or lemon shark off the Worldwide Sportsman's Bayside Marina pier in Islamorada, Fla.
LeNoir said he took Jake, a 14-pound, 2-year-old rat terrier that he and his wife adopted from a shelter, to the pier for a daily swim. Last Friday, Jake encountered more than jellyfish as he paddled through the water.
Jake’s pet dad said he dove in the water after he saw Jake dragged under, and hit the 5-foot shark as hard as he could with his fist.
“It was like hitting concrete,” LeNoir is quoted in the Herald article.
The shark did let go of Jake, who swam back to shore with LeNoir right behind him.
Jake suffered punctures to skin and muscle, but is expected to make a full recovery.
''He looks great and is recuperating well,'' veterinarian Suzanne Sigel is quoted. ``I was worried he may have inhaled saltwater when he was pulled under, but there's no evidence of infection or pneumonia. He's healing great.''
(Photo from WHEC-TV Rochester, N.Y. Web site)
Poor little Jake! He may want to change his exercise routine to beach running! It's hard to say what you would do when a situation like this arises but I think I'd go to most extremes to save my pets if they needed me.
Comment by Kim — September 30, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Believe it or not, Jake was lucky an alligator didn't get him. Shark attacks are oddities, but gator attacks, especially on dogs, are not.
Greg is such a brave person and devoted dog owner.
Comment by Amy Hanek — September 30, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
I am so glad that Jake and his parent are okay. That is very scary. I ran in front of my dear dog Alex years ago who was running toward a Copperhead snake in the country....I got bit twice. I didn't think...I just knew I had to get in front of Alex before he went after it. I doubt that I would survive a fight with a shark though...and hope I never have to. Kim is so right about not knowing what you might do when the situation arises! I never thought I'd run toward a snake until my dog was in danger.
Comment by Deborah — September 30, 2008 @ 3:41 pm