SOUTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have issued a public safety warning following a reported crocodile attack in South Miami that left a family’s beloved dog dead.
South Miami Police issued the advisory after the incident which, they said, occurred behind a home along the 6200 block of Southwest 64th Court, Thursday morning.
7News cameras on Friday morning captured officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as they searched for the large reptile behind the attack.
Speaking with 7News hours after the incident, Enrique Pomares said he and his family are heartbroken following the death of their 8-year-old Dutch shepherd, Kygo.
“It’s horrible. This crocodile is a murderer, and it wasn’t even for food. He just killed him to kill him, and this can’t be right,” he said.
Pomares said he let the dogs out in the backyard like he does every morning. But on Thursday, Kygo was walking close to the shoreline when he was attacked by the crocodile.
“The next thing I know, I hear all the ruckus. I see the dog fighting for his life, and I tried to get away, and I tried to distract [the crocodile] and tried to get him to let [Kygo] go. I was even at a point of me going in the kayak to try to get the dog, but that would not have ended well,” said Pomares. “Then [the crocodile] came back up, finally killed [the dog] and he brought him there to the dock, you know, like a trophy.”
Area resident Dexter Lovett later found Kygo, a rescue whom Pomares had adopted six years ago, less than a mile away, near a bridge near Southwest 63rd Court and 56th Street. Sadly, it was too late.
“And I let him know that his dog was here so he can come get his dog. Dogs are family. After a while, they become family; you know, they ain’t just pets, so I know how he feels,” said Lovett.
Lovett said he spotted the large crocodile just days ago while fishing and has reported crocodiles in the past.
“Well, I warned people, I warned everybody about him. ‘There’s a big crocodile, and he lurks. He’s sitting and he’s watching. He’s watched me fish for probably about three hours,” he said.
Another area resident who was out walking his dog Friday morning expressed his concerns in the aftermath of the attack.
“Because my dog looks exactly like that dog or a lot like the dog; it’s just surprising and tragic,” he said.
Police are now warning people with children or pets in the area to be cautious when walking near waterways and to keep dogs or pets on a leash. They also advise people against feeding, approaching or harassing a crocodile.
“It’s a concern because, I mean, if this crocodile is still out there, I’d be worried about walking my dog near the canal,” said the area resident who was walking his dog.
Residents said seeing a crocodile in the waterways isn’t unusual, but it’s a sobering reminder of what is swimming just below the surface.
Unlike alligator attacks, crocofile attacks are extremely rare in Florida. Since the American crocodile is protected under state and federal law, Pomares said there is not much authorities can do about this incident.
“Unless [the crocodile] attacks a human, they are not going to do anything. They consider our pets — which are our family, our dogs, cats, anything — they consider it to be property, so you can’t even protect them,” he said. “We can’t have these animals going around killing other animals or, God forbid, people.”
Now Pomares hopes he can take his heartbreak to Tallahassee and urge them to make a change before any other family gets hurt.
“I’ll see what can be done, see if there’s something we can do to change legislation,” he said. “You know, this is becoming a problem in Florida.”
FWC officials said they’re investigating the incident and assessing the situation. They haven’t said this crocodile is a nuisance, but they’re searching for the animal and will monitor its behavior over the next few days before they determine whether or not it needs to be relocated.
Authorities urge the public to contact them if they see a crocodile in their neighborhood.
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