Bonner Herring has loved black Labs since he was 14, when he got his first Labrador retriever: a field-trial dropout he named Jet. ⁠ ⁠ A native of coastal North Carolina, Herring grew up jump-shooting ducks with his dad, whose job as a riverboat pilot allowed him to scout for birds while working. Herring has trained and hunted with many retrievers since then. But he says his four-year-old Lab, Strike, is the greatest dog he’s ever had. And in early June, Herring put his own life at risk to save his best hunting buddy from a big bull alligator. Herring was on his 114-acre property outside Southport on June 9 when the alligator attacked Strike.⁠ ⁠ Tap the link in profile for the full story 🔗⁠ ⁠ #lab #labrador #labradorretriever #blacklab #alligator #gator #gatorattack #alligators #outdoors #nature #outdoorlife⁠ 📷: Bonner Herring⁠ Story by: dac.collins