The world’s luckiest Yorkshire terrier is believed to have survived a brutal shark attack after being bitten on the backside because the predator simply “didn’t like the taste”.
Maddie, a nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier, was on her owner’s boat when it fell into the water off the northeast coast of Florida.
Bill and Terri Hoge watched in horror as their prized pup disappeared beneath the waves near the pier in St. Augustine.
Ms Hoge told local outlet News 4 Jax: “It seemed like an eternity, but it was like ten seconds that she was under water and of course I got nervous. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m never going to see her again.'”
When Maddie suddenly resurfaced, Mr Hoge dove into the water to save his dog, but discovered she had multiple bite wounds, a broken pelvis and severe bruising.
Maddie, a nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier (pictured), was on her owner’s boat when it fell into the water off the northeast coast of Florida.
The animal was quickly transported to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic.
“The vet found six deep puncture wounds on one thigh, significant bruising on the other and a broken pelvis in three places,” Hoge said.
Although Maddie’s owners thought she had been injured by the boat’s propeller, the vet believed it was a shark attack.
Mr Hoge said: “He called his colleagues around the country to get information about what it could be and they all said it was a shark.”
The shark is believed to have dragged Maddie beneath the waves with its jaws and shaken her vigorously, breaking her pelvis in three places.
The pup is believed to have been attacked by a bull or lemon shark (pictured) who didn’t like the taste of its fur enough to finish its meal (file image)
Veterinary experts suggested that if it had been a propeller, the puppy would have been split in half.
Mr and Mrs Hoge now believe the predator was either a bull shark or a lemon shark, both of which are frequently sighted off the coast of Florida.
While bull sharks can grow up to 12 feet and lemon sharks can measure up to 10 feet, Maddie’s attacker is believed to have been younger, given that the tiny dog managed to escape to safety.
But the Florida couple has another theory: the shark let go of their dog because it didn’t like the unfamiliar taste of its fur.
Maddie is still in severe pain but is recovering at home.