- The Hamburger let visitors into the pool with the alligator to pet him
- The owner built a special addition to his house to protect the large reptile
- The 30-year-old alligator suffered from blindness in both eyes and back problems
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On Wednesday, an 11-foot, 750-pound blind alligator was removed from a home in upstate New York.
The 30-year-old alligator, nicknamed Albert, had been living in a man’s home on Marie Drive in Hamburg, New York.
According to conservation officers, the man had designed his house to fit the alligator.
He built an addition to his house that was equipped with an indoor pool for his prehistoric pets.
Conservation officials claimed the alligator’s owner let visitors into the pool with the reptile to pet him
According to conservation officers, the man had designed his house to fit the alligator
Conservation officers claimed the man, whose identity has not been reported, allowed visitors to enter the pool to pet the unsecured alligator.
While the man previously held a DEC license to possess Albert, the license expired in 2021 and the man did not renew it.
The alligator’s health was deteriorating. It developed blindness in both eyes and spinal cord complications.
Working with the Hamburg Police Department and the Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), conservation officers were able to secure the alligator and remove it from the home via stretcher.
This action sparked an outcry from several Facebook users who claimed to be familiar with Albert and his owner.
A user named Nadine Kaczmarski wrote: ‘I am absolutely devastated! I used to clean this man’s house. My husband helped build (it) inside Albert’s atrium. It was top-of-the-line, a proper environment for Albert to live in.’
She went on to claim Albert was being ‘used for educational purposes’ and said he ‘must be returned to his HOME!’
Another user, Joelle Janish, wrote: ‘It’s hard to see. He loves Albert. He has always been well looked after.’
The alligator’s health was deteriorating. It developed blindness in both eyes and spinal cord complications
The 30-year-old alligator has been committed to the care of a licensed professional until such date as a permanent home is found
She urged people who have interacted with Albert and his owner to collect photos of their experiences and ‘get on the news and show what a lovely environment he lived in.’
And Laura Lautner slammed the conservation officers’ actions, writing that it was ‘Absolutely TERRIBLE that the government can just come and take someone’s beloved pet.’
She also questioned the way the officers transported the alligator in the van: “how they treated him by not securing him in the van was UNNECESSARY … I’m absolutely disgusted.”
The authorities have committed Albert to the care of a licensed professional.
This professional will act as a temporary guardian, housing and caring for the alligator until it can be taken somewhere for permanent care.
Authorities said charges against the man are pending an interview with a veterinarian and a careful review of evidence taken from the home.