When Tony Cavallaro returned from a quick trip to the post office, law enforcement swarmed his home in western New York, swarming as if they were “attacking terrorists.”
“As I pulled into the driveway and got out of the car, he grabbed my hand and grabbed my phone. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet,” Cavallaro told Fox News Digital. Ta. “They are wandering around my house, about 20 men in full body armor.
“I see two guys with shotguns in the driveway. Everybody had their pistols bunched up. It was crazy. And they didn’t tell me for a while that they were going to take the alligator away. I thought, ‘Why?”’ I couldn’t even see him before they took him away. ”
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), which executed the search warrant, told Fox News Digital that Cavallaro’s permit had expired and that “the owner posed a significant risk to the public.”
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Authorities seized Albert the alligator, but the DEC claims he has health problems. (New York State Department of Environmental Protection)
Cavallaro has owned Albert since 1990, when the 11-foot-tall, 750-pound alligator was a 2-month-old baby. He is now 34 years old and lives in a custom-built enclosure built by Cavallaro at his home in Hamburg, New York, in 2016.
“He’s a gentle giant. I’m a mess right now,” Cavallaro said. “I get emotional when I start talking about this. I’ve been checking on him all day. When I wake up or need to go to the bathroom, I go in there and see if he shows up. “That way I can meet him and spend time with him.”
“I’m really concerned about where they got him now. He likes the pool and the pillows and has his usual habits. … I know he’s not in a good place. Here. is his home.”
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Tony Cavallaro holds his one-and-a-half-year-old alligator, Albert. Gator is currently 34 years old. (Tony Cavallaro)
Since the state took Albert away, the story has gone viral on social media with the hashtag #FreeAlbert. Cavallaro received more than a dozen calls of support during the interview.
He said people from other countries have messaged him on Facebook and sent him emails. More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition asking the state to return Albert to his “father.”
Watch Cavallaro and Albert play
Cavallaro recalled stories of taking Albert to educational shows and having friends come over to visit. Albert used to have a dog, and when he was young the two pets slept together in the same bed.
As Albert grew older, his permit no longer allowed him to perform shows, so Cavallaro moved from Buffalo to Hamburg, where he built an enclosure.
Cavallaro relived funny stories about Albert grabbing pillows and rearranging them to his liking, and throwing pillows into the pool, which made life difficult.
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Albert was particularly fond of Cavallaro’s mother, who took care of him for years when Cavallaro traveled for work.
“She would be sitting in her room reading a book or something and he would come up and sit with her,” Cavallaro said of their bond. “He loves my mother. When he hears her mother’s voice, he immediately comes and meets her mother.”
Tony Cavallaro’s mother has a pet alligator named Albert. (Tony Cavallaro)
Pet crocodile Albert “loves his mother,” said the pet crocodile’s owner. (Tony Cavallaro)
So what’s the problem?
According to the NYSDEC, the issues at the center of the “Release Albert” controversy are permit lapses and public contact with the alligator.
“In New York State, possession of animals designated as dangerous animals, including alligators, is prohibited without a permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC),” the agency told FOX News Digital in an email.
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“These licenses protect the animals and the public while allowing possession for regulated activities. In this case, the former owner’s crocodile possession license expired in 2021 and was not renewed. ”
“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.”
New York state authorities have confiscated a pet alligator named Albert from his owner in Hamburg, New York. (New York State Department of Conservation)
Those conditions included deficiencies in the alligator holding area, which needed to be corrected before Cavallaro’s license could be renewed.
Still, Albert may still have been removed because Cavallaro allowed members of the public to swim and take photos with the pet.
“To be clear, even if the owner has the appropriate permits, public contact with the animal is prohibited and is grounds for revocation of the permit and relocation of the animal,” the DEC said. Ta.
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Cavallaro said the only people who play with Albert are his close friends in the house.
“These were my friends and their friends. The general public did not touch him,” Cavallaro said in response to the DEC’s claims. “All the parents who come here with their children can assure me, I would never do anything that would put them at risk.
“Anyone who knows Albert knows he’s the biggest baby on the planet, which means I can literally put my hand on his tongue and he won’t bite me. ”
Tony Cavallaro said his friends were playing together at Albert’s house, which DEC said was an issue. “I’m never going to put them at risk,” Cavallaro said. (Tony Cavallaro)
Albert the crocodile lies on a pillow while rocking a sports jersey. (Tony Cavallaro)
According to the DEC, Albert the alligator will be turned over to a licensed caretaker and kept there until he can be transported for permanent care.
The DEC said it is collecting evidence as part of the warrant and there is an ongoing investigation to determine if charges may be filed.
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But Cavallaro is upset as he prepares to get his “baby” back through legal means.
Meanwhile, the community embraced the Western New York native with planned rallies and “Free Albert” signs and T-shirts.
Tony Cavallaro said he loves stopping by Albert to see if he’s floating or getting out of the water and playing with him. (Tony Cavallaro)
Albert the alligator and his “dad” Tony Cavallaro, who has raised him since he was two months old. (Tony Cavallaro)
Cavallaro’s friend Courtney Valente told Fox News Digital that some pets are “cute and cuddly. They may not see it that way, but they’re the same way.”
“Tony would do anything to bring Albert home and he has a lot of support,” said Valent, founder and president of Empire Animal Rescue Society in Salamanca, New York. Ta.
“Albert’s life and well-being are important,” Valente said. “Alligator or not, he should go home with his owner. … This whole ordeal could have been handled much differently. This is with grace to the owner and Albert It could have been handled in a respectful and considerate manner.”
“I don’t like feeling like this.”
This appears to be heading into a lengthy legal battle with Cavallaro.
“Emotions are running through me. I’ve had so much anger and so many emotions about this,” he said. “I hate these people more than you know, and nothing will change that.
“I think they’re the most heartless, evil people on the planet. I don’t wish anything good on any of them and I hate to feel that way.”
Albert the alligator wearing a Buffalo Bills hat. (Tony Cavallaro)
Albert the crocodile is relaxing on a pillow. (Tony Cavallaro)
Even if authorities take Albert away, Cavallaro said she has no intention of letting him say goodbye to the alligator.
“They couldn’t show me anything. I was outside his room and I couldn’t turn around and look out the window. They said I couldn’t do it,” Cavallaro said. said. “They were wandering all over my house, looking for another animal. That’s what the warrant says, but they don’t have anything else.
“It was very invasive. … And there were 10 guys in another room with him (Albert) and they didn’t want me to see anything, so they cut me off when they carried him out. I took him into the house.”
Albert the alligator at his home in Erie County, New York, before state authorities seized the animal. (onlinepetition.org)
What’s next?
It is unclear at this point how this situation will play out, but it appears that it will end up in court.
Cavallaro said he plans to meet with his attorney next week to discuss next steps, adding that the DEC is currently investigating and will decide whether charges or violations will be filed against Albert’s “father.” Stated.
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“The investigation is ongoing and we will provide further information as it becomes available,” the DEC said.
Fox News Digital’s Elyse Perry contributed to this report.
