Yorkie Recovering After Gator Attack In Englewood

ENGLEWOOD, FL — Zoey, a 9-pound Yorkie, is recovering after recently being attacked by a gator in Englewood.

The tiny pup "suffered four broken ribs, both lungs collapsed, flail chest, and some pretty gnarly wounds," her owner Laura Dujmovich wrote in a GoFundMe fundraiser for the dog's medical costs. "Despite everything, her vitals are strong and she's fighting through the pain."

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As of Friday night, nearly $800 of the $9,000 goal had been raised.

Zoey was rushed to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Port Charlotte for emergency care after the attack. No details were provided about the attack itself.

After her immediate emergency care, Zoey underwent surgery at the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch, during which doctors removed a third of one lobe of her lungs. Half of the remaining lobe is still compromised with contusions, Dujmovich wrote.

The doctors also repaired the dog's broken ribs and explored the wounds on her back,

Though Dujmovich was able to bring Zoey home on Friday, according to GoFundMe, the dog is in for a long recovery, anywhere from six to eight weeks.

She thanked the staff at both veterinary clinics.

"The Veterinary Emergency Clinic … was absolutely critical in saving Zoey's life, preparing her and us for the almost hour-long drive to Lakewood Ranch," Dujmovich wrote.

The surgeons at the Veterinary Medical Center have also given Zoey a chance at recovery, she added. "The staff … have been incredible, and they're confident in her rehabilitation. It's been a long, emotional journey, but we're holding onto hope."

Alligator mating season begins each year in early April, first with courtship, followed by mating in May and June, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

By late June or early July, female gators build a mound nest of soil, vegetation or debris, and deposit an average of 32 to 46 eggs in it.

Incubation takes 63 to 68 days, and hatching occurs from mid-August to early September.

The FWC also offers the following tips for safely co-existing with alligators:

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed them.
• Swim only in designated areas during daylight hours. Gators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. Never let them swim in fresh or brackish water.

If you see a nuisance alligator, report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's SNAP hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

See Also:

• FL Man Fought Off Gator Using Fishing Pole, Poking Its Eyes: Reports
• 9-Foot Gator Broke Into Enclosed Pool At Venice Home
• Woman Killed, Child Injured In FL Gator Attacks
• Woman Bitten By Gator While Swimming With Kids In FL Lake
• FL Man Bitten By 8-Foot Gator While Trying To Save His Dog
• Alligator Attack On Cow Prompts Closure Of Central FL Conservation Area
• Rainbow River Snorkeler Hospitalized In Alligator Attack