8-Foot Alligator Removed From Philadelphia Home Monday

PHILADELPHIA — The Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia welcomed a new resident to its shelter recently, and it might not get along so well with the dogs, cats, and other animals the group houses.

ACCT Philly was called to a home in the Hungton Park section of the city more than a week ago.

The caller said her former partner bought an alligator as a baby in 2012 and wanted to find a new home for the reptile after they broke up and the gator was left behind.

"The woman called us a little over a week ago, asking us to take him," ACCT Philly Executive Director Sarah Barnett said. "So we worked on securing placement, but unfortunately were under the impression he was 5 feet."

When crews arrived, they found the 8-foot gator behind a padlocked door of an enclosure in the home's basement.

"We went out Monday morning to get him and thanks to our officers, we were able to bring him in," Barnett said.

ACCT Philly planned to send the gator to Michigan, but he is too big to fit into a plane.

The group is now looking for a place to relocate him in Pennsylvania.

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"Alligators are illegal to release but not to own, however, it is illegal to keep exotics with a propensity to be dangerous in Philadelphia, and at his size he fits that definition." Barnett said. "We aren't pursuing any charges because we don't want people to hesitate to call us, and instead release animals like this which is detrimental to the animal as well as puts the public at risk."

Barnett urged animal owners to ask for help when needed without fear of being punished.