Florida puppy gets job as a Deputy Dog after a daring gator rescue

This fall, 4-month old puppy, Gunner, got a job as a Deputy Dog. How did he get this role? Let’s find out!

Earlier in the fall Gunner, a 4-month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, was on a normal walk with his owner in Estero, Florida when all of a sudden he was grabbed by an alligator. However, Gunner’s 74-year old owner, Richard Wilbanks, refused to let his pup get taken away from him and wrestled the gator himself, all while prying little Gunner out of his mouth.

When this initially happened, there was footage of such a rescue/fight that went viral overnight. What a heroic moment for both of them, am I right?! What guts did Gunner’s owner have, and how brave of Gunner to survive such an attack!

Florida puppy Gunner survived a gator attack back in the Fall, and now has a very special job title as a Deputy Dog! Let’s see more!

Now, due to Gunner’s bravery and his survival attack going viral overnight, he will serve as a safety and security officer under the Deputy Dogs Pets on Patrol type program at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office!

Basically, his duties include visiting children to teach them about all sorts of safety-related concerns, such as the following, as mentioned previously by Carmine Dellaquilla from the Deputy Dogs program itself:

"“School bus safety, safety as it relates to the water — alligators in the pond, toads, cane toads. Any types of danger that children face everyday.”"

Wilbanks stated how excited he and Gunner are to meet new people, and when asked if Gunner would get nervous in a room filled with children, he said that Gunner should have no problem facing a room full of children after surviving the jaws of a gator! SO true!

Here’s another little message about the Lee County Sheriff’s office and rescue dogs:

"Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno appears to have a soft spot for rescue dogs. Not only did the sheriff make sure Gunner got his “gold shield,” but he also adopted a dog name Chance in March 2019, after the canine was found abandoned with its mouth taped shut. Chance has also been deputized and now serves as “spokes-dog” for the agency, per FOX 13."

What do you think of this daring rescue by Gunner and his brave owner? Did you see the footage? Let us know down below, as we’d love to talk! Merry Barkmas, and Woof, Woof!