Hamburg, N.Y. (WBEN) - Not for the faint-of-heart, an 11-foot alligator weighing 750 pounds was removed from a Town of Hamburg residence on Wednesday.
Officers from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation learned the owner of the home was keeping possession of the alligator without a permit.
The homeowner built an addition onto his home and installed an inground pool for the swamp monster. The gator is approximately 34-years-old and has lived with its owner for that period of time.
Hamburg Police, DEC officers and the SPCA conducted the seizure and the gator was turned over to a licensed caretaker. DEC officials say the alligator has numerous health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.
"My neighbors love him," Albert's owner, Tony Cavallaro told WBEN Friday morning. Albert has a pool, according to Cavallaro and also has the luxury of heated floors. "He's a gentle giant."
Albert was being cared for by a neighbor prior to his return from Florida this week when, he says, DEC officers converged on his home to secure the alligator.
In a release, the DEC states Cavallaro previously had a permit for Albert, but it expired in 2021. "Analysis of additional evidence seized during the warrant and consultation with a licensed veterinarian will determine any future potential charges," the release states.
Late Friday, the DEC added this statement:
"Possession of animals designated as dangerous, including alligators, is prohibited in New York State except under license from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 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 that time, DEC determined the owner’s facility failed to meet specific conditions to ensure this dangerous animal did not come in contact with humans and did not pose a threat to humans or the animal.
"To be clear, even if the owner was appropriately licensed, public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for license revocation and relocation of the animal."
Laura is the neighbor of Tony Cavallaro and provided us the video below.