SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — The search continued Friday for an American crocodile believed to have attacked and killed a 9-year-old Dutch Shepherd in South Miami, as wildlife officials urged residents to take precautions around nearby waterways.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials spent the day searching for the crocodile but had not located it as of this publishing.
Officials are urging residents to keep pets on leashes and keep children away from the water’s edge, particularly at night.
The search comes one day after South Miami resident Enrique Pomares said his dog, Kygo, was attacked while outside with his two other dogs outside of his home on Thursday morning near Miller Drive and Southwest 63rd Court.
“It was horrific,” said Pomares. “The dog was trying to get away. I pulled him down several times and (it was) just horrific watching this whole thing go down.”
Pomares said he tried to save Kygo, even throwing a kayak at the crocodile. The dog was pulled underwater and was later found on an embankment several homes away.
“Now this is personal,” he said. “Now, it’s taken a member of our family.”
The attack has left some South Miami residents concerned about crocodiles in the area.
“It is a little nerve racking. We’ve had people call about it and nothing is happening with the crocs being moved,” resident Jacqueline Correa said.
Correa said she has seen two crocodiles in the area.
“We have seen two for sure one is a smaller one, and the one is quite the larger one,” Correa said.
Correa also captured video in June showing what she described as the larger crocodile swimming through the same waterways where Kygo was attacked.
FWC officials returned to the area Friday to search for the crocodile and determine whether it meets the criteria for relocation.
“I mean it would be great if they could relocate them to a different space,” Correa said.
But relocation is not necessarily immediate.
FWC officials say American crocodiles are a protected species, meaning officials must monitor the animal’s behavior and determine whether it meets the criteria for relocation.
Until then, residents and visitors are being urged to remain cautious around the waterways and keep pets and children away from the water’s edge.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
