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Tampa Parks Workers Find Body Of Dog Gator Killed

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By NEIL JOHNSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - City workers on Wednesday found the body of a dog killed two days earlier by an alligator at Al Lopez Park.

The body of Freddy, a 5-year-old, 19-pound cairn terrier, was found near the pond where the alligator that is now being stalked by a state-hired trapper grabbed the dog Monday morning.

The trapper was unable to capture the alligator Monday but will return to the park. Bad weather on Tuesday kept her from trying then. The gator is said to be at least 5 feet long.

The dog's owner, Sarah Frey, 37, said she is considering having him cremated. Freddy was Frey's first dog, and she raised him from a puppy.

On Monday, she and Freddy had finished a lap around the park and she let Freddy off his leash. The dog ran to the park's southern pond and was briefly out of her sight.

Witnesses told the city's Parks and Recreation Department that the alligator, which was a common sight for park visitors, grabbed the dog.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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