New York authorities this week seized an 11-foot-tall, 750-pound alligator that was illegally kept as a pet by a Hamburg homeowner.
“The time has come to air another episode of 'The Stories We Never Thought to Tell,'” the New York State Department of Environmental Protection said on social media Friday.
Among the bizarre details associated with this story is that the homeowner had built an addition to his home that included an in-ground pool to house the reptiles, allowing people to swim with the alligators. Masu.
The homeowner previously had a permit to keep the alligator, but it expired in 2021, according to the DEC.
The DEC said the animal was seized “for public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator.”
It's time for another episode of Stories We Never Thought We Would Be Tell. 🐊
On March 13, ECO successfully captured an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator that was illegally kept in a residence in the City of Hamburg. 🧵⤵️ pic.twitter.com/iEsAVeuns9
— New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (@NYSDEC) March 15, 2024
Homeowner Tony Cavallaro was returning from running errands Wednesday morning when he was confronted by law enforcement officers with a warrant, WIVB reported.
“Everything they did to me, they treated me like a terrorist,” Cavallaro said.
The alligator is over 30 years old and has a number of health problems, including blindness in both eyes, according to the DEC.
The animal was placed with a licensed caregiver while a permanent home was sought.
WIVB reports that Cavallaro is trying to regain ownership of his beloved pet named Albert.
