The One that Got Away
To what lengths would you go to rescue your pet from certain death? Greg LeNoir of Islamorada, Florida, found out when he dove into the ocean to save his dog from a shark attack.
The story begins a few years ago. After spending months searching for a pet, Greg and his wife, Tessalee, received an email with a picture of Jake, a 15-month-old rat terrier, from a local rescue organization. The couple decided to foster the dog for a week. “Before the first evening was through, we were madly in love with the well-behaved little fellow,” Greg says. Jake is now two-and-a-half years old.
"When I took Jake to the ocean for the first time, he immediately sprang into the water and swam swiftly straight out," Greg says. "When I called him, he simply turned and swam back right to my feet as though he had done it a thousand times."
Jake has been swimming every day since then. The day of the shark attack was no different from any other. Here is Greg’s account:
“I watched in horror as a seven-foot-long shark loomed below the little swimmer. I thought, It will pass him by; Jake is so small, it won’t be interested in him. Instead, the shark just kept coming. With one giant gulp, accompanied by a terrible scream from Jake, the shark engulfed most of Jake’s body and disappeared under the now-turbulent water. I thought, No, this can’t be the end! I have to do something! There was no time to waste—I was Jake’s only hope. I would put my entire energy into my fists and strike with all the fury that was enveloping my brain. And then I was diving down at the shark and stiffening my arms for the collision I prayed would come.
The impact drove my shoulders back. When I surfaced, my first thought was, What’s next? What else must I do to get Jake back? But he and the shark were gone. I looked in every direction over and over, and finally Jake surfaced. Although he was covered in blood and howling, he managed to start swimming toward the shore. I swam behind him.
It was this swim that causes me the most nightmares. I was sure that at any moment the shark’s jaws would take my bare legs in exchange for its stolen meal. I swam and kicked in a terrified frenzy and did not rest until I joined Jake on the shore. Then I saw Jake’s injuries as he stood there crying and bleeding and shaking. As ridiculous as it may seem, I remember thinking that Jake hadn’t seen the attack coming and may have no idea of what had just happened to him. As I scooped him into my arms and pain and panic overcame him, he reflexively bit my hands. I said over and over 'It’s OK, baby. It wasn’t me.'
My wife called a local veterinary hospital to alert them to Jake’s situation, so by the time we arrived, a team had been assembled under Dr. Suzanne Sigel, and they quickly began assessing and stabilizing Jake. Since then, Jake has visited the hospital numerous times, and Dr. Sigel and Dr. Martha Edwards have done wonders to close his wounds. Our family owes much to this top-notch team.”
Greg tells us that Jake appears to be headed for a complete recovery, adding, “Whether or not he will want to swim again is something only he can decide."