Trent Tweddale and his dog are recovering after an alligator attack at their farm in Pasco, Florida, earlier this week.

Trent Tweddale told Tampa television station WFLA that he and his dog, Loki, were on a walk Monday morning when the rescue pup was grabbed by a nearly 13-foot gator and into the water. Tweddale, a former Army staff sergeant, quickly reacted. 

“I grabbed the dog’s collar to try to pull him back, and I ended up in a tug-of-war match with this gator, and the gator was not letting go,” he said. “So I let go of the collar, and I got about knee-deep into the water and started pounding on the gator’s head until he eventually let go.” 

Tweddale got away with minor scratches, but Loki had to undergo emergency surgery after his front leg was nearly severed. 

“When I pulled him back up, the bones were out and it looks like the arm was just hanging by a shred,” said Tweddale. “They put metal plates and screws in and were able to reconstruct it that way. We’re hoping that he can regain full use of his paws after this.” 

With the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife, Tweddale has set a trap for the gator on his property. He said he won’t rest until he catches it.   

“The trapper did not have any bait, so I grabbed one of my roosters and we used him as bait for the trap. We haven’t had any luck yet,” said Tweddale. “We love our dog a lot and I’d fight tooth and nail for him.”