Yorkie survives alligator attack in Englewood, faces long recovery

A 6-year-old Yorkie named Zoey is recovering after surviving an alligator attack in Englewood, Florida, that left her with severe injuries. “That’s my sister. She's my best friend. She is the glue that holds the house together,” said Laura Dujmovich of Englewood. For Alice Trowbridge, Zoey is more than just a pet. “I adopted her during COVID, and I attribute her to saving my life, really,” Trowbridge said. Zoey is full of personality and loves spending time with her family. “She likes to watch TV; she likes certain commercials. If a jingle comes on from a commercial that she likes, and she’s in the other room, she comes running out,” Trowbridge said. But now, Zoey needs her family more than ever. “Less than a minute out there, we hear her cry, and immediately my daughter and I ran towards the sound yelling, ‘Zoey, Zoey, Zoey.’ We found her lying on the sea wall covered in blood,” Trowbridge said. The alligator was gone by the time they reached her. Zoey was left in critical condition with four broken ribs and both lungs collapsed. The animal hospital gave her a 50% chance to live. “I thought I lost my dog. Scariest thing I have ever been through with an animal,” Trowbridge said. Friday morning was the first time Trowbridge and Dujmovich were able to bring Zoey home since the attack. The gator attacked Zoey on Tuesday, and blood stains from the incident were still visible days later. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.