Man Saves Dog from Jaws of Shark

October 14, 2008

During a routine swim Jake, a 14-pound Rat Terrier, was attacked by a 200-pound Lemon Shark in the Florida Keys. Thanks to his owner, Greg LeNoir, Jake survived. (Pet Pulse Photo by Alicia Zaitsu, Design by Mike Lloyd)

ISLAMORADA, Fla. -- A 14-pound dog would generally be no match for a 200-pound Lemon shark. But Jake, a Rat Terrier, has lived to tell his tale, with the small arch of teethmarks that still remain on his body.

A large Lemon shark took a bite out of the dog, while he was swimming laps in the ocean nearby his Florida Keys' home on Sept. 26.

He is still healing from puncture wounds and intense lacerations. But the vet who cares for Jake says he will make a complete recovery. That is after a recent routine swim off the a dock in Islamorada went drastically awry.

"The jaws opened wide and with one big gulp it took almost the whole dog in," LeNoir said with his arms outstretched reenacting the shark's attack. "And I thought this can't be real, this can't be happening."

But it was really happening, almost as fast as LeNoir's instincts kicked in.

"So I thought well, I maybe have one chance one chance at saving Jake," he said. "So I put my fists together and I dove in as straight and stiff as I could."

One hard punch to the shark caused it to release Jake. The dog then swam to shore, surrounded by a cloud of blood, LeNoir says.

Despite the great risk he took, LeNoir doesn't regret his impulsive blows to the shark.

"If you're ever in a situation like this and you have one second to save somebody you love, don't think twice, just jump in," he said. "And get the job done."

LeNoir's brother, Jerry, says he couldn't imagine doing what Greg did for Jake.

"He just loves his dog and they're very, very tight. and I just can't believe he did it," he said. "I wouldn't have done it, especially after today when we saw all the sharks in the water with the fish cleaning going on, that was devastatingly scary."

While LeNoir's blows to one shark did the trick, they haven't served to deter the many others that frequent the port. As LeNoir revisited the site of Jake's attack, several sharks could be seen circling the shallow water.

Fisherman who use the nearby fillet station to clean fish say sharks often flock to this area for the leftovers.

"I'd seen these fish cleaning stations before but I didn't really know what they were like when they were in use or what activity it would generate,"LeNoir said.

The family says Jake will swim again, but next time It will likely be confined to a swimming pool.

"Jake's never gonna see this spot again unless it's from an airplane," LeNoir said.

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