Tampa woman mourns terrier eaten by gator

TAMPA -- Freddy was a dog: a cairn terrier, to be precise. He was 5 years old and weighed about 19 pounds. He was running through Al Lopez Park Monday morning when he came upon an alligator.

Freddy, it could be said, was a brave dog.

He saw the alligator in a pond near the pedestrian trail, according to Cathie Schanz, operations manager for Tampa's parks department. He barked.

He jumped in the water.

And the alligator ate him.

His owner was Sarah Frey, 37, a manager for a salon-leasing company. She had Freddy since he was a pup. She was walking him in the park when he suddenly ran ahead.

She ran after him. By the time she got to the water's edge a few people had gathered. Somebody screamed.

"As I got close," she recalled, "a man just looked at me and said, 'He's gone.'"

State officials were attempting to have the alligator trapped and removed from the pond today. Frey said she cried for eight hours straight.

She was lonely without Freddy today.

"Everybody loved him," she said.

--Thomas Lake, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[RM]

So sorry about Freddy. He was just being a dog. Please don't punish the alligator for being an alligator.

[jenna]

take the gator to a zoo before it eats a kid

[Responsible Dog Owner]

Sounds like Freddie should have been on a leash. Now thanks to Ms. Frey, both Freddie and the alligator will die.

[Robby]

"He barked.

He jumped in the water.

And the alligator ate him."

... what a STRAIGHT FORWARD way of putting that.

[Rebekah]

Since we don't put kids on leashes and kids go to the park and can also quickly get away from parents...I would suggest getting rid of the gator.

[Cindy]

Maybe we should get rid of the park.

Which was there first, Rebekah?

[ND]

Feel very, very sorry for the dog and owner. Just curious, however, is that a dog park? If not, why wasn't the dog on a leash? Keeping a dog on a leash protects the dog and makes sure humans maintain control over their animals. Why is the alligator being trapped for eating something that jumps into the water? I can't imagine that was a pond that people swimm in, is it? So, I would guess anything in the water is fair game to an alligator...it is Florida after all.

[Steve]

Once again, humans and domesticated animals will cause the foolish death of an animal in it's own environment

[Florida Gator]

Yummy good for the tummy. Why didn't mama jump in after him. Then they could be together

Tree huggers.

[Al Lo]

There is a dog park but it is fenced in away from ponds and does not come into contact with pedestrian trail. This woman was clearly breaking the law and has only herself to blame.

[wazzamattaU]

I see them with their little barking dogs. They don't want to clean up after their precious doggies, and no leash. Why don't they use leashes? And why do they seem to want an animal to replace human interaction? Keep your pets home.

[treehugger]

Good reporting! Amazing how a supposedly unbiased reporting can display how distraught this woman is, yet ignores the fact the dog (a)should have been on a leash and/or (b) should of been IN the dog park.

[Linda]

So sorry about Freddie, I feel its the owners fault, if she had him on a leash like you should, he would not have jumped in the pond. She should cry, now the poor aligator will die too and its not its fault its hers.
If you can not take care of your pet the right way, don't have one.

[Marc]

Were not TreeHuggers, we are Gator Huggers! Go Gators!

[Steve Tamayo]

Kids can wander away from their parents and drown in the lake. The obvious solution is to drain all lakes.

[Dave]

People who don't understand that we live in Florida, which is FULL of scary reptilian creatures, and anyway will be, should realize the planet is not a mall, here for your amusement and designed for your safety.

Use some common sense when you're outside. It's YOUR responsibility.

No one elses. The alligator did what all alligators do.

[kathy]

Sure, the dog should have been on a leash, but I feel so sad for this lady......the loss of a very much loved pet is always tough. If there is a kids play area near this lake the gator should probably be removed but if there's not, he should be left alone.

If only the economy hadn't slowed this pond would have been paved over and none of this would have happened...

[Goomba]

I hope she gets a new puppy, and a leash. Another lesson for all US dog lovers.

[Tony]

She timed her cry? Did she not have anything better to do? As much as I feel bad for the lady, can you imagine being the dog??? The last thing you see is the teeth BEHIND you!!! Nothing but darkness after. I'm sure it was a painless death, but than again a dog that size is an o'douerve for this gator

[Hungry Gator]

Good Song! Enjoy

[Get-Smart]

thegatergotem - say that 3 times. Ha

[Roger]

Why do we need these monsters. Keep a few in a zoo if you must, but i don't need to see these monsters. They should all be killed. Roger.

Poor doggie. I'd lose it if I lost mine in such a violent way.

Of course, leashes, appropriate walking areas, and knowing to not let my dog be able to run out of control are also something I think of. Especially with the story not long ago about the man whose dog was killed by the greyhounds.

Dogs are innocent. And so are gators.

You mean people, Roger?

[Roger]

All you Gator lovers are nutbags. Times have changed, they serve no purpose except to kill children & small animals. I would rather have the little dog alive than the Gator.

[Roger]

It figures, People in Florida vote too. Florida should not be allowed to vote because you're all nuts. Must be the Heat. Roger.

[TLS]

If they would allow Walmart to build a superstore here, this would have never happened.

[Roger's an idiot]

I really feel sorry that this woman lost her dog, but its her own fault. And now, thanks to her carelessness, the gator will probably die too. Good Job dimwit.

And Rebekah, it called SUPERVISION sweetheart...thats what parents are THERE for. Put down the cell phone and double mocha latte and pay ATTENTION!!! Quit trying to put the blame on something thats your responsibility. And Im sorry, but I knew at a pretty young age not to go near gators. If you think your kid is that stupid, then darlin you might wanna look into gettin a leash.

And Roger, I sincerely hope your gene pool ends with you. It would be a tragedy for you to have kids. If you love this planet, you will look into a vasectomy as soon as possible.

[Roger]

The best part of you dripped down your FATHERS leg.

[gpmartin]

the dog owner was wrong to let her dog run free--no leash law?--and the dog paid the price. This is florida folks--move back to new york or wherever if you can't deal with reality.
now-- a number of natural creatures--here for millions of years- will die --die for doing their natural thing.
I have zero sympathy for the dog owner--and complete empathy for all the natural wild creatures that have and will die because of human selfishness, arrogance and stupidity.

[Jim]

Way to go Roger. Sound like a stupid Yankee.
If your worried about these monsters stay up North.

[Sparky]

At most parks you can buy pellets to feed the ducks or fish. How about a stand that sells annoying little dogs to feed to the gators.

[simon]

i can't believe this is news. bummer, some pet became lunch. here's an idea, report on things that MATTER!

[snaggletooth]

WOW, I feel bad for her, Im going to that park tomorrow to find the gators turds! so she can keep them on her mantle in a vase like cremated remains, I hope she's learned from this! And gets a cat, Everyone knows gators dont eat PUSSYcat!

[Don Mott]

It's hard for me to imagine that in this day and age of technology and the ease to get facts that people could still be so ignorant of the importance of the varied species of wildlife. There is a chain which has evolved over many years and when one link is broken there are repurcussions to the rest of the chain. A bad gator in a populated area should be taken but to say that they all should be killed is very, very ignorant of life and the repurcussions of destroting a species. If you don't think it will affect you you are illogical and ignorant of the facts of life and nature. Go drink your martini and shut up.

[Ken]

We moved to the gators territory not the other way around. I feel bad for the dog, but, worse for the poor gator. Don't live in Florida

[David]

I wish I had an alligator like that in my neighborhood
I'm really sick of listening to dogs bark. Maybe a gator would eat the owners. I like dogs OK, but dog owners are almost always ***holes.

[William]

If this owner would have kept her dog on a leash, he would still be alive. I have a dog and walk him regularly in parks and always on a leash. I can't tell you how many times unleashed dogs just run up to me or him and cause problems because the owners are about 50 yards away. Get a leash!!!

[BUGSY MCGRAW]

Just like fidos owner I cried also, but they were tears of relief! , 1 less pile of dog crap in the park

[barton]

Perhaps this was a dog suicide.

All of this could have been prevented if the owner had used the leash like she is supposed to.

Leave the alligator alone.

[Rusty]

She should get a giant dog to eat the alligator!

[to the tree hugger comment]

By the time everything's all over, knucklehead, you'll be looking for a tree to hug and there won't be any. Can't fix stupid!

[Senor T]

Go Gators!

Fill in the lake and build a stripmall.Now that's Florida!

[Silly Season]

Whoa! Malls aren't safe! Malls are mugatoriums with huge parking lots where you're out of sight of security as soon as you leave the store. Malls in Boca Raton are even killing fields.

Lakes are safer

[LJ]

Amazing....this lady "loves" her pooch so much she lets him run amuck. When poochie dives into the pond, which is the gators territory, it's damn the gator. Take responsibility people...watch your own pets and your own kids..don't blame others for your stupidity...and don't blame the gator. Can't blame the gator for taking advantage of a tasty little morsel. Hope the poor thing doesn't hack up a fur ball.

[Matt]

I just wouldn't characterize a cairn terrier as a dog.... but hey, that's me...

[Tim]

I wonder if he made a "squeek toy" sound on the way down ???

[Roger's an poopyhead]

Thats what gators do, they eat, puppies, cats, and anything that fits in their mouth,You would never see me walking my dog or child near a pond.

[BOB]

Roger step to the front of the line and and we need to kill your kind off to we dont need you to reproduce ,Please rap that rascal ,they are not monsters theyw ere long before us and will be here long after we are gone humans are the aliens on earth we are the only species that cover our bodies with clothing and we havent gotten to the top of the food chain by eating carrots you veg heads need to eat meat

[Jack LOL]

I lol'd

[Lawlerskates]

Mama says that gators are ornery cuz they have all thems teeth, and no toothbrush.