Great Article on Risking it All for Love...Read More...
By: JMertlich,
10/2/2008
Man Punches Shark to Save Dog
Doggie Hero or One Lucky Guy?
By Sylvia Cochran, published Sep 30, 2008
Islamorada's Bayside Marina pier was the scene of a man attack on a shark. How is that for a change? The Miami Herald reports that one Greg LeNoir watched a shark bear down on his beloved canine companion and jumped into the water, punched the shark, and saved the pooch.
Mr. LeNoir is no spring chicken, and jumping into the midst of a shark attack is not a small deal. But with his best friend's life at stake, there was little time for musings. His wife is quoted as saying that Mr. LeNoir is not unlike the original Dr. Doolittle who is always saving animals and looking after their welfare.
Responses are mixed, and some believe that LeNoir displayed an incredible lapse in judgment when jumping after the animal and taking on a deadly fish. Perhaps. On the other hand, if you are a dog Lover with a capital "L," you understand.
Take for example the rescue of Spike. Dogs in the News reports that in 2002 Police Officer Mark Wyzykowski rescued an old, blind, and deaf dog from a raging fire by running into the burning building to retrieve the pooch.
In 2007, Reuters reported on Randy Gurchin, a combat veteran from the Iraq war who saved his 10 months young bulldog with mouth to snout resuscitation after the dog briefly went under water in an icy lake.
These stories illustrate that while dogs may be man's best friend, there are at least some for whom this feeling is mutual and who, even at the risk of personal injury, will jump in and do anything and everything necessary to save a dog in mortal danger. Of course, the comments many of these stories receive showcase that a good number of people simply find such actions absurd.
Those who still think that attacking a shark with fists was folly in its purest form, consider that in 2007 Harvey Miller was able to save himself by punching a shark. ABC reported that when attacked while snorkeling, two punches right below the dorsal fin appear to have scared off the shark and made it possible for him to struggle back to the beach for help.
So what do you think -- doggie hero or one lucky guy?