WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A family dog is recovering after a terrifying encounter with an alligator that nearly cost him his life.

Zeus, the Al-Khatib family's beloved German shepherd, suffered serious injuries during a surprise alligator attack Monday evening. The dramatic incident unfolded when Zeus was in the backyard of his Wesley Chapel home.

“Thinking that Zeus was gone for a second was heartbreaking. He’s our baby,” Susan Al-Khatib said, emotionally recalling the chaos of that night.

Before the attack, Zeus was healthy and full of life. The after images, however, tell a much different story. His jaw is now wired shut, he wears a muzzle, and he bears multiple puncture wounds to his neck.

The attack began when Susan’s father was sitting on their patio and Zeus heard an animal rustling

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