The gator that attacked a retired Manatee County K-9 on April 20 has been caught.

  • Gator attacked Arek, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, and tried to drag him in the water
  • Arek fended the gator off and survived
  • Gator measured at 8 feet 4 inches long

A trapper captured the 8-foot-4-inch long gator just days after it grabbed Arek, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, and tried to drag him in the water.

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"Everyone thought I was exaggerating when I say he was a big one," said Arek's owner, St. Petersburg Police officer Chris Leister. "But I was right on top of him. I knew how big he was!"

Leister added that the trapper was incredulous regarding the fact that Arek got away from the gator at all.

Leister credited Arek's K-9 training in part for his survival.