Video Catches Florida Pet Owner Saving Puppy From Alligator's Jaws

Cameras in a Florida backyard caught a heart-stopping moment. Local 10 reported that a man in Estero, Florida rescued his three-month-old dog from the jaws of an alligator.

It started when 74-year-old Richard Wilbanks was walking Gunner, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, by the pond near the back of his house. The retiree recently volunteered to have cameras installed in his backyard for a video project by the the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fStop Foundation.

They weren't expecting what came next.

“And it came out of the water like a missile. I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick,” Wilbanks told CNN. The owner jumped into the waters and grabbed the puppy. Reporters said the man pried the gator's jaws open so Gunner could escape.

"The puppy had a puncture wound in his belly and is doing fine. [Wilbanks] suffered minor injuries to his hand," Local 10 wrote. Wilbanks and his wife, Louise, said they'll keep Gunner on a leash next time. They added that the puppy doesn't go near the water after the incident.

“We do need to be aware they are wild animals. They’re not here for our benefit. We’re very lucky to share this space with them,” Louise Wilbanks said.

Photo: Getty Images