‘I wasn’t going home without him’: Man rescues dog from gator’s grip

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Dogs are often called man’s best friend, and for one Southport man, that bond meant risking his own life.

Last week, Bonner Herring jumped into his family’s pond to save his dog, Strike, from the jaws of a large alligator.

“I yelled out Strike’s name as loud as I could, which normally when I do that, he comes running, he didn’t come running. So I started running,” Herring said.

Herring lives on a property that’s been in his family since the 1950s. He says he knows the land and the wildlife on it well — especially the pond.

“Maybe a month ago one in the seven or eight-foot range showed up and that’s a much bigger gator so I monitored him. And I usually would see him — I would usually see him on this southern shore — that’s where they warm up and start their day,” Herring said.

But on that morning, Herring said he skipped his usual check of the pond and got right to work.

“So I let Strike out, started working in the garden,” he said.

About 45 minutes later, he heard something he’d never heard before.

“And I was almost done with my work. And uh — I heard Strike let out a yell like I’ve never heard him yell before in my life. And I heard a splash. And immediately I knew what it was. There was no hesitation on my part,” he said.

Herring grabbed a rake and ran toward the water.

“I picked up that rake. I could see ripples in the water — I ran in that direction,” he said.

He spotted Strike’s head, farther out than he expected.

“It was definitely way further than I wanted it to be. And I remember when I jumped in the lake I thought to myself — why in the heck does this thing have to be so deep? Because I was not touching the bottom,” Herring said.

With the dog still in the alligator’s grasp, Herring dove in.

“He just had this look of — please do something Daddy, please do whatever you can. And uh anyway, I made the decision that I was not going home without him,” he said.

Herring was able to free Strike and hold him under his arm, but says getting back to shore was difficult — especially when the alligator surfaced again.

“He took a big inhale, puffed up himself and postured — showed me how big he was. And he was much bigger than any gator I’ve seen in this lake ever,” Herring said.

Despite the close call, both made it out alive. Herring first brought Strike to a friend’s veterinary clinic in Supply, where X-rays confirmed the dog had a broken leg. They were referred to an emergency clinic in Wilmington for further care.

Herring said it was in the waiting room when the weight of what happened finally set in.

“And I lost it for a second. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t answer questions. And the lady beside of me — she was nice. She said, ‘It’s going to be okay.’ And uh… I guess it is,” he said.

He said he’d do it all again — but doesn’t recommend others follow his lead.

“You know, if you Google what to do if an alligator attacks your dog, I did it that night, when I looked over and saw Strike’s bed and it was empty. And basically what I did is everything you don’t want to do,” he said.

“I don’t care who you are, how tough you are, how strong you are, how tough you are,

you are no match for a mature boar alligator like this one was. And I’m just the exception. I’m lucky.”

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission encourages residents to follow its “GatorWise” guidelines for staying safe in areas where alligators are present.

John Henry Harrelson, a District 4 wildlife biologist with the commission, says if your property backs up to a pond or lake, you should always assume an alligator is in the water, and keep pets away from the shoreline.