Lizabeth, the Jack Russell terrier, was on her afternoon walk today on the banks of the Hillsborough River when its owner heard splashing.
"When I looked real close, the gator had her in his mouth," said Lizabeth's owner Tom Martino.
Martino, who has a concealed weapons permit, pulled out his handgun and started shooting at the water around the alligator.
The 6-foot-4 alligator wrestled Lizabeth in the water and then let her go. Using a rod, Martino was able to rescue his dog. He then performed CPR on her.
"She coughed up a bunch of water," said Martino, who had never performed CPR on a dog. "I was scared. That's my little baby."
The incident happened near North Perry Avenue.
Nine-year-old Lizabeth, who's named after Fred Sanford's deceased wife from the 1970s sitcom "Sanford and Son," is in critical but stable condition and is being cared for at the Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa.
Veterinarian Miryam Reems said the dog suffered bites and lung injuries from being under water. Before the alligator attack, Lizabeth was being treated for a suppressed immune system. Reems credited the CPR with saving Lizabeth's life.
At around 7 p.m., a trapper contracted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission used a treble hook and fish line and captured the alligator.
Martino took photos of the capture as neighbors watched and news crews filmed the action. The alligator was taped, roped and placed in the back of the trapper's pickup truck.
"I'm glad he's gone and nobody else got hurt," Martino said.
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