A Florida man is mourning the loss of his dog after they were attacked by a 9-foot alligator while walking through a park.

The incident occurred earlier this month at the popular J.R. Alford Greenway Trail in Tallahassee. 

Joshua Wells says he was following his usual lunchtime routine where he took his 40-pound black Labrador Toby out for a walk and a quick game of fetch when the incident happened. 

Wells says once his dog got close to the water, the alligator quickly leaped up and grabbed his dog by the head, and dragged him into the water.

“Boom, the water just sort of exploded,” Wells told the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FOX 13 of Tampa Bay reported. “He never barked. He never saw it.”

“It took him down like it was nothing,” he added. 

Wells says he attempted to get his dog back by grabbing the alligator but reconsidered after seeing how big the alligator was.

 Wildlife officials have since tracked down the alligator responsible and euthanized it. 

Officials recommend that those traveling near water keep pets on leashes.