Man pried gator's jaw open to save puppy! It was man vs. alligator in the fight to save a puppy's life. Richard Wilbanks was walking near a pond when an approximately 3-foot long gator snatched his 3-month-old puppy, Gunner, and pulled the dog under water. Fox News reports a camera placed by Florida Wildlife officials caught the 74-year-old man jumping in, grabbing the gator and prying it's jaws open. Wilbanks said it was extremely difficult pulling its jaws apart. His hand were chewed up. Gunner suffered a single puncture to the midsection and was patched by a vet. Wilbanks says he wants to remind folks with pets to stay away from the edge of water. Would you have jumped in to save your pet's life? Would you have let the gator go?