Alligator killed after eating dog to be exhibited at museum

 


By Madeleine Wright
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -
The alligator killed for eating a dog in Jacksonville will one day appear at a local museum.
Onslow County will put the animal's body on display at the Onslow County Environmental Education Center and Library on NC Highway 210 in Sneads Ferry.
The facility is still under construction and is expected to open by November or December.
The nearly 12,000 square foot facility will have one central exhibit, a walking trail outside, and an outdoor classroom, said Onslow County spokesperson Lisa Whitman-Grice.
The county hopes the alligator will teach visitors the importance of respecting an animal's boundaries.
"If we see these animals and can learn from them, then that makes it all that more important to care for them," said Whitman-Grice.
The alligator is now at a taxidermy office in Johnston County being stuffed, said Whitman-Grace, a process which could take 10 months to a year.

-- Previous story --
An alligator believed to have attacked a dog has been recovered by authorities.
Jacksonville police shot the gator three times with a high powered rifle, said deputy chief Patrick Traitor of JPD. Its body resurfaced Wednesday afternoon and has been recovered. Officials asked that the body be put on display.
NC Wildlife officials determined it was not safe to relocate the alligator.
Officers 9 On Your Side spoke with say it's unfortunate authorities had to shoot the animal, but they felt he posed a risk to citizens.
NC Wildlife officials said they found the apparent remains of the dog within the alligator.
The alligator attacked an 80 pound Husky at the Mill Creek Green portion of Henderson Green at Henderson Drive and River Street on Tuesday night around dusk. The woman walking the dog wasn't hurt.
"I'm not surprised because I live in apartments just across the road and my landlord says there are gators in the water and I always see kids and their parents by the water," said Jacksonville resident Jennifer Simmons.
City officials said the incident reinforces that residents should not feed wild animals, including alligators and ducks.
They also advised that residents should keep their pets on leashes and keep children and pets away from the water, especially at dawn and dusk.

--- Original Story ---
An American alligator ate an 80 pound Husky dog in Jacksonville.
Police and animal control officers are searching for and trying to capture the alligator.
This all happened Tuesday night on River Street and Henderson Drive near Mill Creek.
Authorities say people in the area need to refrain from feeding wild animals including ducks. This is because the alligators feed on the ducks.