Bail me out of jail?**UPDATE**

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

As most of you already know we have to watch out for the gators here.  We've had a close call or two but nothing that mother nature didn't create.  NO the community will NOT let me put up a fence.  As far as I know, one has never come up into the yard from the lake behind us.  We see them swim past always going inside the lanai.  However, for the past 3 weeks we have been living in terror!  There is a smallish gator - I'm guessing 5 or 6 feet, that I believe someone has fed.  This makes them very dangerous as they now have no fear of humans.  I believe that someone has fed this gator because if I go out into the back yard with the boys in the morning or at dusk this guy (cue the Jaws music) will make a bee line straight across the lake right to us.  I've called security and they came once but no gator, (they can swim under the road through tubes from lake to lake), called them again when he came back but no one came out.  Called them again and nothing.  Tonight he came within a foot of the shore.  I'm trying to gather up 2 puppies with the zoomies and get them inside.  I'm shaking, I'm scared and I'm sick of living in FEAR.  I called security and told them that the next time I see it - I'm going to shoot it.  Yes - I do have a gun and am a pretty good shot.  They are now promising that the trapper will be here tomorrow but I swear - if I see it I'm going to shoot it and I will go to jail as it is illegal.  I no longer care - I've had it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If I text you all from the back of the cruiser - will ya bail me out?

********************************************Security called just now and said that the trapper would be here by noon.  I don't care if he has to spend the night - he isn't leaving without that gator.  I've also called the shooting range and am taking a gun class on 10/27 for women.  I'm going to get my skills back up to snuff just incase I have to snuff a gator - lmao!  I'll let ya know if they catch him!!!! 

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Count me in for bail!! We'll take care of it! Go get that gator, girl!!

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Hey, my BIL and SIL are police officers in Dade County - and dog lovers who've had gators in their yard in Loxahatchee so if they get called to your house I'm sure they will understand you did what you had to do.  (And if you can't make your one phone call ask them to give us a call and we'll get the word out.  You'll be out of jail in no time.)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Kim - ask them sometime what would happen to me if I shot an aggressive gator with me living in a golf community.  Also I bought this gun about 9 yrs ago for my husband through a gun store in GA.  Does that mean that it is considered registered?  Or do I have to do something in FL?  My luck would be that I shot a gator with an UN-registered gun.

[Sharon & Monty]

I'm pretty sure a legally purchased gun is legal anywhere.  You had to give your name etc to purchase it, so its legal.  I'm in for bail money, you have to protect your babies.  We have idiots in my neck of the woods that think its cool to feed bears, talk about stupid!  If you get him, I'd be interested in a gator collar for Monty.  :)

[Becka]

Jane, 5 or 6 feet doesn't seem very small to me! Those people that feed gators make me so angry. It's an ALLIGATOR, it doesn't need your handouts! Please be careful.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Morning here and waiting for the sun to rise - walked the boys on leash - now we'll SEE if the trapper shows up!  My fear about jail is that dh works out of state and can be very hard to reach, I can AFFORD my own bail but I might need someone else to pay it up front.  I've never been arrested so I am not sure how all that works.  LOL  I don't ususally carry much cash and I doubt that I can plunk down a credit card. 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good luck Jane-I really hope they take care of it and then I would go to the city and tell them this isn't just one gator and they need a barrier of some sort .

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oh boy, DK just got interesting. Jane is packing a gun and going gator hunting. Isn't that a new show called Swamp People or something? I hope it all gets resolved today and you can go back to a life of peace and quiet. People should not feed the gator.

[Geri]

I live in Florida and my neighbor had a gator on her front porch. The authorities did come and get it.

Years ago gators were put on the endeangered species list and now we are over run with them. I have a walled in back yard and love it.

Gators can sprint 40 miles an hour for a few minutes. Hope the warden gets there soon.

Good luck.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

Jane, this situation seems ridiculous! I hope you dont have to use the gun and the trappers will actually come and do their job.... On a side note after all the posts about guns and killing gaters the ads are showing Dexter (with splashes of blood around him) haha!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Jane, I've been thinking more about your situation.  Are you governed by an Association, and are they "elected"?  Are they the ones who made the decision that you could not install a fence?  It now appears like the fence is the only way that you can guarantee the safety of your dogs, right?  Do you think it would be worth a try to go back and try again for the fence on the basis of this safety concern?  I'm thinking a letter documenting the danger and the potential liability on the part of the Association (assuming they are the decision-makers) with a copy to your Attorney might be worth another try.  If you can get other neighbors to join that's even better.  We had a similar situation, although nowhere near as drastic as yours.  We had a "rule" that dogs would only be allowed to "eliminate" in our three fenced in "dog park" areas.  If you were seen violating this, you were fined.  Well Guinness caught Giardia as a puppy, and I felt he contacted it there.  I took a while but I got the rule changed on the basis that if the Association could not guarantee the cleanliness and safety of these "dog parks" then they would be held liable for any expenses incurred.  They investigated what it would cost for weekly disinfecting of these areas and decided it was easier to change the rules.  Now I know your situation is much more severe, but if a "rule" results in you and your pets being put in a dangerous position, it seems like there would be some liability on their part.  I'm also pretty sure that their Liability insurance carrier would be quite interested in this exposure.  I don't know, but it seems the fence is your real answer....and it would be so much easier than moving.  Have you talked to your Attorney?

[Diana Erhart]

Jane, I would definitely send you bail money!  Shoot the dang thing if you need to.  I don't know if it was publicized in Florida but here in Texas, Governor Perry once shot a coyote on a trail while out walking his dog when the coyote threatened them.  Then, I believe it was Ruger, came out with a "coyote special" gun.  We could publicize your plight and have them come out with an "Alligator Special" version!  Maybe they could engrave a doodle on the side of it!!