Florida woman watched in horror as an alligator’s jaws closed around her dog — and dove in knowing she might not survive

Without hesitation, Kimberly jumped on the gator’s back and began prying its jaws open.

PUBLISHED 19 HOURS AGO

(L) A woman hugging her pet dog near a lake. (R) An alligator. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) RR-Photos, (R) Robert Loe)

A terrifying encounter between a family dog and an alligator in Florida left one woman injured and facing a moment no pet owner ever wants to experience. As reported by Fox 13, what started as a routine walk turned into a moment of panic and bravery that reminded everyone just how dangerous Florida’s natural surroundings can be. Behind the frightening story lies a powerful message for all pet owners in alligator-prone areas.

A woman with her pet dog near a pond. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Alina Kandybka)

Kimberly Spencer, an elementary school teacher, was walking her dog, Kona, near their neighborhood pond in Westwood Lakes when the unexpected happened, per Bay News 9. “We went down. I didn’t see anything to be worried about,” she recalled. But in an instant, she spotted a 6-foot-6 gator emerge from the water and head straight for them. “All of a sudden, I heard a noise, and ten feet in, you could see. I saw its eyes, and I saw it turn.” With no time to think, Kimberly watched in horror as the gator clamped down on Kona, getting her entire head in its jaws. Without hesitation, Kimberly jumped on the gator’s back and began prying its jaws open.

A pet dog near a lake. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Nancy Ayumi)

“She was in up to here; her whole head was inside its mouth,” Kimberly said, describing how she straddled the gator. “I stopped thinking and just dove on it. As lady-like as that is, and was trying to pry its jaws open," she told Fox 13. She further commented in conversation with Bay News 9, "Once I got it, her out, I clamped its mouth shut and was holding onto its jaws, its mouth shut." Despite her fear of reptiles, Kimberly acted purely on instinct. “I’m always afraid of gators, snakes, you name it. I’m not a nature girl,” she admitted. But when faced with the threat, there was no backing down. “I wasn’t letting it take my baby, that’s it.”

An alligator on land. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Charles O'Rear)

The gator eventually let go and retreated into the water. Both Kimberly and Kona needed medical treatment. Kimberly had bites on both hands, and Kona suffered shoulder injuries requiring stitches. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) later confirmed the gator’s size and stated that a nuisance alligator trapper had been called in to remove it. Thankfully, both Kimberly and Kona recovered at home, though the emotional toll was expected to last much longer.

A pet dog at a vet clinic getting treatment. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | MelkiNimages)

“We are empty nesters; she's my baby,” said Kimberly. “I wasn’t ready to take on that mindset of an animal versus a human.” She hopes her story will serve as a warning to other pet owners. “It could easily happen, and you might not be that lucky to get your child or your pet.” The FWC urges residents to avoid feeding wildlife, keep pets on leashes, and stay away from the edge of water, especially during warmer months when alligators are most active. As Kimberly put it best while describing the horrific incident, “I would never let anything happen to her,” a sentiment every pet parent can understand.