Gator attacks dog
In Savannah River
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Darrell Radcliff and My Lady

A six-month old golden retriever was reunited with her owner Tuesday after surviving an alligator attack and three days lost in the swamp.

"This is the happiest day of my life," Appling landscaper Darrell Radcliff said as he headed to the animal hospital. "I can't wait to carry her home."

Sunday, Radcliff and his puppy, My Lady, were on the banks of the Savannah River, just upstream from Griffin Landing.

It was a hot afternoon, and the excited retriever headed straight for the water, paddling out to the middle and circling back toward her owner.

Radcliff was amused and began recording her swim on his digital camera.

That amusement turned to horror when he heard a commotion in the water and saw his puppy's head clamped in the jaws of an alligator.

While the gator tried to roll, Radcliff screamed, stomped and threw rocks at him.

"By some miracle, My Lady was able to get loose," he said.

She swam for the bank with the gator tailing her, then scampered toward their van, "screaming and whimpering."

But the disoriented retriever ran right past the van and deep into the swamp.

Late Tuesday morning, a wornout Radcliff was living out of a makeshift camp, calling for his lost dog and putting out dry dog food, blankets and chew toys.

Though his friends feared her dead or severely injured, Radcliff was resolute.

"She's my life," he said as he tromped through the woods, his voice hoarse from calling her. "I'm going to stay right here until I find her or I die."

Within an hour, he saw a blur of blonde near the river bed and called her one last time.

"She growled at me then barked," he said. "Then she came running."

He took My Lady straight to the animal hospital where veterinarians found four big bites above her eyes and under her chin.

According to DNR rangers who reviewed the footage, the gator was in the neighborhood of eight feet.

"She's got eight ticks and she's tired and dirty," Radcliff said, pointing out that his newfound pup is exactly six months and 13 days old. "But she's a lucky, lucky, lucky dog ... and thirteen is my new lucky number."

To watch the video, click here (Windows Media format).