A Western New York community is rallying behind a man who kept a sickly 11-foot-long, 750-pound alligator in his swimming pool. There, children were invited to swim with this gentle giant.
The 34-year-old reptile was seized on Wednesday from his Hamburg home, which was decorated with an underground pool that resembled a pond.
The homeowner “allegedly allowed members of the public to enter the water to pet the unsafe alligator.” State Department of Environmental Protection Said.
Officials said the giant crocodile had a number of health-related problems when it was removed from its home, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.
The owner’s state license to keep alligators expires in 2021. At the time, the state determined that the alligator breeding area did not meet safety standards. Officers took action this week after learning of the “extent to which the owner posed a significant risk to the public”.
“At that time, DEC determined that the owner’s facility did not meet certain conditions to ensure that this dangerous animal did not come into contact with humans and did not pose a threat to humans or animals,” NYSDEC said. he told The Post via email.
“To be clear, even if the owner has the appropriate permits, any public contact with the animal is prohibited and is grounds for revocation of the permit and relocation of the animal.”
However, New York state law also prohibits owning alligators as pets.
DEC did not respond to The Post’s questions about whether the illness was a result of alligator farming.
The reptile lover has already fought back against the seizures of his beloved pet Albert, who has been with him for 34 years.
“As I’m sure everyone has already heard, the DEC and SPCA took Albert away from me, saying I put people at risk.” Anyone who knows this is not true,” self-proclaimed owner Tony Cavallaro wrote in an online petition.
“I took better care of him than most people take care of their children.”
Cavallaro said the permit lapse was due to recent changes in DEC regulations regarding alligator ownership.
He claims he tried to renew his permit but was repeatedly ignored by the DEC, especially when he tried to make sure his permit was enforced after legally owning the alligator for 34 years. .
The grieving man also accused the DEC of aggressively arresting Albert, even though he claimed his only crime was having his license revoked.
“They also brought at least 20 or more agents in full body armor and guns to my house and treated me like a criminal. He looked like a drug runner who was running a gun,” Cavallaro continued.
“The scene they have created on my street is extremely disturbing and completely wrong. I am extremely upset and angry about this whole incident!”
Cavallaro has received strong support from the community on social media, with dozens of friends vouching for the love and care Albert was given at his Hamburg home.
Many added that Albert was a gentle crocodile and posed no threat to the people or children he swam with.
State environmental officials have not decided whether to press charges against Cavallaro.
Albert was then placed in the care of a licensed caregiver until permanent care could be found, according to the DEC.
Hamburg is a town in Erie County about 25 miles south of Buffalo.
