Man grabbing for dog gets bit in hands by gator

Joseph Canasta of Land O' Lakes got a shock and painful surprise when he reached under his car thinking his dog was resting there.

What Canasta grabbed, though, turned out to be a 5-foot alligator that didn't exactly welcome the contact, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

The alligator bit Canasta, 38, on both hands.

The incident happened about 12:30 a.m. today. Game commission officers arrived about 8 a.m. today and captured the alligator. It was injured before officers arrived, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the game commission. It will be killed.

Canasta received stitches in both hands at University Community Hospital in Tampa. He was released after treatment and was recovering at home today.

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