Wesley Chapel, FL – A Wesley Chapel family is shaken after their rescue dog nearly lost its life in a backyard gator attack that has left the community rattled.<\/p>\n
On a recent evening, Zeus, a German Shepherd, exited through his doggy door as usual when an alligator allegedly broke through the backyard fence and grabbed him by the neck before dragging him into a nearby pond.<\/p>\n
Family members raced outside with flashlights only to find Zeus struggling for his life, still attached to the reptile.<\/p>\n
Their shouts prompted the alligator to release him, allowing the exhausted dog to swim back toward safety.<\/p>\n
Covered in blood, Zeus returned to shore in critical condition.<\/p>\n
He suffered a fractured jaw that shifted out of place along with multiple puncture wounds around his neck.<\/p>\n
His head was nearly engulfed by the gator\u2019s powerful jaws, leading the veterinarian to express amazement that he could survive the ordeal.<\/p>\n
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission deployed trappers to locate the alligator but so far the animal remains at large.<\/p>\n
One family member expressed fear for their seven year old sister, wondering if the alligator would have shown the same aggression toward a child.<\/p>\n
Zeus has undergone multiple surgeries and is now in recovery.<\/p>\n