Six-month-old Chloe has endured several surgeries and a leg amputation, but her will to live has never wavered.
- Gator tried to drag Chloe out of her yard
- Veterinarian had to amputate the dog's leg
- Parents, vet say Chloe is a survivor
The mixed-breed rescue clings to her vet, Doctor Elizabeth Chosa of the Courtenay Animal Hospital, on her latest checkup.
Why? She saved her life.
The recently-adopted puppy was outside at her Merritt Island home Sept. 26, which like so many others, had been flooded by Hurricane Irma and heavy rains in the weeks afterward.
"With all the wind and rain, it brought all the water closer to our property, " Chloe's owner, Jo Ellen Kleinhenz, said.
Jo Ellen said she suddenly heard yelps from the yard and ran outside.
"[Chloe] was holding onto a branch on the side of the swamp area, and I figured it was a gator, it was completely submerged," she explains. "And she was just holding on. It seemed like an eternity."
DOG SURVIVES GATOR ATTACK: @ 5pm, see the amazing survival story of Chloe, dragged into #Irma flood waters by a gator. @MyNews13 #Brevard pic.twitter.com/b1hKHsYK3C
— Greg Pallone (@gpallone13) October 13, 2017
The gator had dragged Chloe by the back leg into the swamp water.
"You just don't know what to do," said Jo Ellen. "I was screaming and throwing things, and eventually the alligator just let her go. She was able to swim over to me, I wrapped her up in towel and bring her here."
"Here" is the Courtenay Animal Hospital, where Dr. Chosa went into action.
"The fact that she saved herself is pretty amazing," says Dr. Chosa. "She's made my job easy because she's such a survivor."
Chloe is a survivor of four surgeries, 14 hours on the operating table, in just two weeks.
She suffered an abdominal wound, her back foot was crushed from the gator's clench, bacteria-filled swamp water in her lungs, plus sticks and leaves inside her stomach.
Dr. Chosa had to amputate the damaged back leg, and used it to skin graft the belly wound.
"She had her bandage changed Monday, so we are optimistic it will take," she explained.
Chloe's owners have been asked if this trauma has changed her personality. Not one bit.
"She's still so sweet, caring and resilient," said Jo Ellen.
"I think I'll be lying in my nursing home bed and still remember Chloe," said Dr. Chosa with a big smile.
A pup's survival story worth remembering.
Dr. Chosa said Chloe doesn't need a prosthetic leg, as she is doing just fine on three legs -- and she will live a normal, healthy life.
Her owners also want people to be aware of gators at all times.