Crocodile Ban at Walmart
A Pennsylvania man has found that his emotional support crocodile can no longer accompany him inside Walmart after a recent incident at the store.
Wesley Silva, who is 60, announced that his pet, Jinseosi, is now prohibited from entering the Walmart in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
“We went to a restaurant,” Silva shared, mentioning that they’ve had great experiences at places like Denny’s, where Jinseosi is treated like a star. “She always gets VIP treatment there.”
The 5-foot-long reptile made its impression during two separate shopping trips, which drew surprised reactions from customers at the store just south of Pittsburgh.
In photos that surfaced, Jinseosi, weighing 32 pounds, was captured wearing a dress while being pushed in a shopping cart—a striking image indeed. Another photo showed her in a shirt with a harness, which added to the unusual spectacle.
Silva expressed his frustration regarding Walmart’s ban after seeing how Jinseosi was generally well-received in public before. The ban seems perplexing, particularly given the positive feedback he’d gotten so far.
Walmart later issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to customer safety. They clarified that while they welcome service animals, crocodiles do not fit into that category and could pose a risk to the public.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, only service animals like dogs and miniature horses are allowed in their stores. Silva reacted casually, saying simply, “We’re off to the flow,” when discussing the new restrictions.
Interestingly, since he brought Jinseosi into his life four years ago, Silva claims that encounters with the public have been mostly positive. “I was really surprised by it,” he said.
He had adopted Jinseosi from a neighbor who could no longer care for the crocodile. “I did some research, and I didn’t want to put anyone in danger,” Silva explained, reassuring himself about the decision.
Despite the Walmart ban, he has no plans to halt their outings around town. Crocodiles can grow to be quite large—over 12 feet long and up to 1,000 pounds, according to the National Wildlife Federation, but Pennsylvania has no state laws against owning them, as highlighted by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Committee.
“There aren’t any regulations unless these animals are released into the wild,” they noted, adding that no national permit is necessary to have these creatures.
In a related note, fans at a Philadelphia Phillies game found themselves denied entry when they tried to bring their own emotional support crocodiles into Citizens Bank Park earlier this year.
