Too close for safety!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I was excited for today - an entire day to just spend with Rooney & my DH - it doesn't happen often at our house.  After our morning coffee we headed out with Roo for our usual morning walk, about 2.5 miles on a beautiful, paved hike/bike path through the FL marsh.  I used to be afraid to do it with just Rooney and I but in the past 6 months have gotten over that.  Yes - you keep your eye out for cougars - one was seen just last week, but the black bears and wild pigs have been removed.  So we enter the marsh path off of our road and get about 30 ft down the path, dh is about 2 feet in front of me because I had stopped to take the leash off of the dog, he loves to run up and down the path as we walk, chasing squirrels and burning off energy.  Suddenly dh spins around and screams "Rooney" while throwing himself ontop of the dog, before I can ever say "wtd?" I see just off the sidewalk a 6 foot long alligator, laying there with its eyes on us - being very still.  It was no more than 3 ft from the sidewalk and I'm guess we were about 15 ft away from there.  We did a U turn and got outta there fast.  We walked back home, put Rooney safely in his ex-pen and went back with the camera to see if we could capture the monster on film.  Sadly, he was gone, crossed over the walk and into a lake that is right there, we figure.  I believe that dh seeing the gator saved Rooney's life - who I'm sure would have run right up to the thing and become a snack.  I'm sad to realize that I am DONE with the marsh walk, I'll miss the quiet solitude and stunning beauty but I'm too freaked out now and could never relax and enjoy it.  I parlayed my trauma in some blueberry pancakes at Cracker Barrel and while there I found a hat for Rooney that will help him blend into the scenery - a frog disguise so that bad gator can't see him for the tasty morsal that he is.  Call the moving van - I'm ready to move!!!!

The gator was on the left side of the walk, in the open area.

 Rooney in his new disguse.

[Joan, Louie and Mila]

Glad you and Rooney (and DH ) are safe!!! Not sure the disguise is the right one though Roon...I hear gators eat frogs in one GULP!!! Wouldn't want anything to happen to such a cutie pie!!!

[Sharon & Monty]

oh my!  I've never lived anywhere near gators, I'm sure that would unnerve me.  With regards to trading my bear for your gator, I will have to decline.  I'm not a fan of having a bear on the deck, but he was only interested in the bird seed, not getting us.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Woah! Jane you are right; that was very close.  Thanks heavens your DH was there.

[Sharon & Monty]

holy s***!  check out my bear blog.  i dont envy you at all...........well maybe the climate. but alligators, oh hell no!

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glad you all escaped!

[Bonnie and Kona]

That sounds absolutely terrifying! I love, love, love Rooney's disguise though.

[Kyoko]

OMG! How scary is that!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

OhJane I am so with you... I hate gators!!!! The thought of Rooney or Jack or any dog just being a snack for an alligator literally stings my eyes with tears,

 

My moms community does not allow fences either... and Jack will never purposely ever get out, we picked her lot as far away from a lagoon and golf course as possible but I know Jack if he gets loose, he is going to stick his little nose in by the water.... It terrifies me.. I think we will have some kind of safety thing installed in the yard, like an invisible fence, not for them to be outside in, but just incase they get out, My mom is 70 so her with a puppy getting loose scares me.

 

Thank God, He protected you, DH and Rooney.....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Glad Rooney is safe.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I love Rooney's disguise.  He should scare off all predators with those over-sized eyes now.  Seriously, I would have been terrified. YOU might also have been a snack.  I could not ever go back there. I am truly a  sissy, city girl.