A pet alligator dwelling together with his proprietor for over 30 years in western New York was seized by state authorities, which sparked a firestorm of backlash.
Many individuals within the city of Hamburg, New York, a Buffalo suburb, backed “Albert the Alligator’s” proprietor, Tony Cavallaro, and began a web-based petition urging the state to return Cavallaro’s 11-foot, 750-pound “child.”
The Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which took the alligator away, mentioned Cavallaro’s license to have the alligator expired in 2021, and the gator was taken “within the curiosity of public safety.”
Nonetheless, neighbors and space residents backed Cavallaro, who instructed an area information outlet, “I’m Albert’s dad, that’s all there is to it.”
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New York State authorities seized a pet alligator, named “Albert,” from his proprietor in Hamburg, New York. (New York State Division of Environmental Conservation)
The gator was seized final week, in keeping with the DEC, which mentioned Cavallaro allowed members of the general public to get into the water with “Albert,” who had his personal room, pool and waterfall in his Erie County residence.
“The alligator has numerous health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications,” the DEC mentioned in an announcement.
Nonetheless, Cavallaro bit again in opposition to the state company’s accusations, saying, “Every one who has met Albert or knows Albert knows that this is not true.”
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“I took care of him better than most people take care of their kids,” he mentioned, in keeping with a web-based petition, which garnered almost 115,000 signatures as of late Tuesday morning.
The petition contains a few dozen movies from supporters. One particular person, who mentioned she is a private pal of Cavallaro, mentioned he takes care of his gator and the 2 must be reunited.
One other particular person mentioned, “I signed the petition because I have a heart …. Free Albert.”
“Albert the Alligator” in his Erie County, New York, residence earlier than state authorities seized the gator. (New York State Division of Environmental Conservation)
DEC’s response
The problem on the heart of the “Free Albert” debate is a allow lapse, and public contact with the alligator.
“Possession of animals designated as dangerous, including alligators, is prohibited in New York State except under license from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC),” the DEC instructed Fox Information Digital in an e-mail.
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“These licenses, along with authorizing possession for regulated activities, protect the animal and the public. In this case, the former owner’s license to possess the alligator expired in 2021 and was not renewed.
“At the moment, DEC decided the proprietor’s facility failed to satisfy particular circumstances to make sure this harmful animal didn’t are available contact with people and didn’t pose a risk to people or the animal.”
Authorities seized Albert the Alligator, which the DEC says has health issues. (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
Those conditions included deficiencies in the gator’s holding area, which needed to be rectified before Cavallaro’s license could be renewed.
Even then, Albert may still have been hauled away because Cavallaro allowed the public to swim and take pictures with his pet.
“To be clear, even when the proprietor had been appropriately licensed, public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for license revocation and relocation of the animal,” the DEC said.
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Albert the Alligator was turned over to a licensed caretaker, who will house the animal until it can be transported for permanent care.
Evidence is still being seized, as part of a warrant and ongoing investigation, to determine if any potential charges will be filed.
Cavallaro’s side of the story
Cavallaro is not going away quietly. He told WKBW, a local ABC affiliate, that he tried to renew his permit but could not get clarification from the DEC about certain changes.
He argues, as the gator’s owner for 34 years, he should be grandfathered in.
Cavallaro told 7 News that kids have posed for pictures in the pool with Albert in the back, but it was not often.
This is a sample of the comments on an online petition for a New York man to keep his alligator. (change.org)
His neighbor, Laura Lautner, told the local news outlet that it was not like he was “having (an) alligator get collectively, or events. He is only a very nice man and loves that alligator, and treats it properly.”
Cavallaro said state and local authorities that seized Albert swarmed his home with “20 or extra brokers … in full physique armor and weapons treating me like a felony,” in keeping with the net petition.
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“It was like I used to be a gun-dealing, drug-dealing felony the best way they acted,” he said, according to the petition. “The scene that they made on my road could be very disturbing and completely incorrect. I’m very upset and offended about this entire incident.”
He mentioned he’ll submit updates about potential courtroom info because it turns into out there.
