[Louie]

My brother who lives in Islamorada Florida in the Florida Keys called this morning and told me a frightening tale of determination and survival.

My brother Greg is 53 married, and the proud owner of an adopted jack Russel terrier mix. The dogs name is Jake. Jake is extremely obedient and gets along good with anyone. Greg likes to take Jake everywhere he goes including work. My brother is a contractor and self employed so that is not a problem. On the weekends and during down time Greg takes Jake to the local parks to play and swim in the shallows. Yesterday he took Jake to a local marina and a favorite place of theirs to swim. Jake was out swimming by himself in about 4' of water when Greg heard him yelp loudly and at the same time saw as a large shark holding jake in his jaws. My brother who is never scared of anything dove in and swam to Jake who by this time was taken down and left only a cloud of blood stained water behind. Greg went under water saw the head and neck of the shark with his dog protruding from it's mouth. My brother said he then began hitting the shark which he said felt like concrete. the shark then released Jake from his grip and my brother said he held Jake best he could who by this time was yelping and biting my brother out of fear and hysteria. My brother made it to shore and said all the while he was terrified that the shark would bite his leg or him in general. I was just at this same marina during the 4th of July holiday and remember a local guy telling me (and I later repeated to my brother) while watching Jake swimming out near the same area that they had a Lemon shark that liked to hang out in those grassy flats and that it was not a good idea to let Jake swim. My brother never really listens though ( I probably would not have taken it as a serious warning either) still jake returned unscathed. Jake underwent surgery yesterday and is severly lacerated from behind his front legs across his back and abdomen to his tail. The bite mark is huge so my brother described. jake has a long way to go and will hopefully pull through. My brother has the worry and a huge bill to boot. I called channel 6 news in Miami to see if they would interview him. I gave them his number. I guess we'll see what happens now. I am so glad my brother is o.k. and that Jake did not disappear. he really loves his dog. I doubt I would be brave enough to do what he did being a father would make me think twice.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Lucky the shark didn't your bro...Hope Jake makes it out ok.
JP

[Captain Eddie]

Poor Jake, that's scary. Hope he comes through OK.

[Cruver Collecter]

Hope the pooch recovers well.

[PappyB]

Man, I love my dog but there are limits.... don't know whether to admire the guy or think he's nuts. Hope Jake mends!

[chiefs70]

Wow! What an experience, Louie. I hope Jake pulls through alright. I'm a dog nut and have jumped in the middle of my dog getting in a fight with a pit bull in the past - the shark is only a bit scarier.

Eric

[Louie]

Hey guys here is the link with my brothers story. Yes, I am a shark tooth collector and have found thousands some 4+ inches long.


Keys man punches shark to save his dog | MiamiHerald.com

[Captain Eddie]

So, it sounds like Jake will be OK? Glad to hear it, Louie.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Now that is a story.....
Good to hear Jake will be ok...
JP

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by Louie

Hey guys here is the link with my brothers story. Yes, I am a shark tooth collector and have found thousands some 4+ inches long.


Keys man punches shark to save his dog | MiamiHerald.com

Thanks for the link Louie. Pretty scary indeed. Yes, I saw some of the fossil shark teeth that Louie has found. Just think of how big a shark was with a single tooth that is 4 inches!