GUNNER

A missing South Carolina K-9 was reunited with his handler after going missing Wednesday during a training exercise, the York County Sheriff's Office said.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida dog whose rescue went viral last month has a brand new job. Gunner, a 5-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is now a “deputy dog” with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “Do you swear to up hold the constitutional law for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Gunner,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno asked the pup. In a video shared by the Sheriff’s Office Wilbanks retold the story of the wild encounter when he rescued Gunner from the jaws of an alligator. Gunner is fine, I’m fine and so am I,” Wilbanks said.

Meredith Budd, regional policy director with Florida Wildlife Federation, said Wilbanks volunteers with an educational program called Sharing the Landscape. It’s a campaign part of the Stop Foundation with a mission to teach about co-existing with wild animals. The nonprofit organization hopes the video will serve as a learning experience for people to maintain their distance from wild animals and make sure to stay safe. “You know, I didn’t even realize that until people started making that comment after they saw the video. Gunner is fine, I’m fine and so am I,” Wilbanks said.

ESTERO, Fla. – A 74-year-old man leaped into a Florida pond and wrestled open the jaws of an alligator that lunged from the water to attack his 3-month-old puppy. The rescue last month was captured on video by cameras placed in the area to document wildlife. Florida Wildlife Federation workers discovered the attack when they checked the camera's memory card last week, according to the agency’s regional policy director, Meredith Budd. Wilbanks jumped into the water and pried open the gator's jaws, freeing the frightened puppy. The cameras in the Wilbanks' neighborhood are part of a partnership between the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fSTOP Foundation, Budd said.

saved the puppy from getting eaten by an alligator and never dropped his cigar, a true legend pic.twitter.com/ryRSfZqOsy — juan vidal (@itsjuanlove) November 22, 2020click image Photo courtesy Juan Vidal/TwitterA wildlife camera captured a man jumping into a pond, gabbing an alligator, ripping its jaws open, and pulling out his pet dog, all while never dropping his cigar.According to Wink News , Richard Wilbanks, 74, was walking his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, Gunner, along a pond in Estero, Florida, when a gator jumped out and pulled the dog in.“He just came out like a missile,” said Wilbanks to the station, adding that his adrenaline and instincts kicked in. “They’re like children to us, so there was no second thought whatsoever,” said Wilbanks.The incident was caught on a surveillance camera from the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fSTOP Foundation, which usually captures clips of deer or bobcats.Wilbanks told Wink that his hands were “chewed up” and Gunner suffered a few puncture wounds in his belly, but is expected to recover.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released a statement, saying while alligator attacks are rare, Florida residents should be cautious, especially when walking pets near water.“We encourage everyone to take precautionary measures, particularly those who live or recreate near the water,” said the FWC. “Dogs and cats are similar in size to the natural prey of alligators. Do not allow pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators. Keep pets on a short leash and away from the water.”