His emotional support animal is an alligator. They sleep in the same bed. (Not Florida man)

[LeftInTX]

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/His-emotional-support-animal-is-an-alligator-17405394.php

Joseph Henney's emotional support animal WallyGator goes with him almost everywhere, from the grocery store to walks in the park. They hug each other and sleep in the same bed. WallyGator is an alligator.


The two watch television together on the couch, and when Henney takes him to the farmers market, WallyGator gives hugs to shoppers - as long as they are OK with being that close to a 70-pound reptile with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

Henney filled out an application on the U.S. Service Animals website, and once it was approved, he received a certificate along with a harness and leash for his alligator. WallyGator is required to be certified every year, he said.

People were surprised when they learned that Henney's alligator had joined the ranks of the emotional support peacock and donkey, he said. He has been known to dress him in a tuxedo and sunglasses, and sometimes even a hat.

Fortunately, there are no plans for the alligator to fly a plan

[montanacowboy]

1. Well it is kinda cute

wonder what he feeds it?

[shenmue]

2. Hmm

[Liberty Belle]

3. Apparently he rescues abandoned gators that were discarded pets,

So not quite as crazy as this sounds at first. This is a guy with a log of experience handling these critters.

[montanacowboy]

7. That's a good thing

good for him

[secondwind]

4. Wally belongs with other alligators, swimming around and

splashing it up. Not watching tv, this is not normal.

Just my two cents….

[Laffy Kat]

5. I'm dubious.

It's a reptile. It doesn't have much more than a brainstem for instinctive survival behavior.....I think.

[hlthe2b]

11. I wouldn't make this assumption esp on a species that has survived to the age of dinosaurs. And THIS

The Man Who Swam With Crocodiles

https://watchdocumentaries.com/the-man-who-swims-with-crocodiles/

Our understanding of even human brain function is unbelievably rudimentary, despite all our publications and MRI studies--and when it comes to that of other animals, our knowledge is almost childlike. If you ever have a chance to hear from the world's most renowned neurologists/neurobiologists (at least those not addicted to their own fame) they will be candid on this point. There are several talks on this issue archived on TedTalks. It really is eye-opening.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. I have had my fill of gators as a BSA leader

I am former/retired BSA leader (my son aged out a very long time ago). There is a state park that is fairly close to my current house where they have raccoons that pick the food cabinets unless you put a pad lock on the food pantry and 12-to-15-foot gators (you are prohibited from bringing dogs to this state park). I had a friend who did a training session for girl scouts at this park during gator mating season. These critters are loud, The campsites are a distance from the water, but I never felt safe.

My kids saw this story and we all had questions about this person

Link to tweet

The state park has an observatory and after a while the troop decided to just drive up to the observatory and skip camping in a park full of gators

[LeftInTX]

8. Is the park Brazos Bend by chance?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. Yes

It has been over 20 years since I have been there. I imagine that the observatory now has issues with light pollution

[LeftInTX]

10. I have a friend who "competes" in the Brazos Bend 100

Actually her better half competes and she just runs/walks in the muck. She often shares gator pics.