Man loses two fingers saving his dog in gator attack

Man loses two fingers saving his dog in gator attack
By Jerome Burdi

Sun Sentinel

8:53 PM EDT, July 18, 2009


PALM BEACH COUNTY - David Grounds was walking his 7-year-old dog by the pond behind his home west of West Palm Beach on Saturday morning when he saw the wake of a 7-foot alligator approaching.

He screamed for Mandy, a wheaten terrier, to get away but it was too late: the gator clamped down on Mandy's midsection and the squealing dog was helpless as the alligator started thrashing. Grounds, 65, rushed over and grabbed the gator's mouth with his hands while poking it in its eye with his thumb.

"He was powerful," Grounds said from his Palms West Hospital bed Saturday night.

The gator released its grip and Mandy was saved. But then the gator snapped at Grounds, taking part of his right index and ring fingers.
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