750-Pound Blind Alligator Seized From New York Home After Owner Allowed Children To Swim With It

A 34-year-old ailing alligator was seized from a home in Hamburg, New York. The alligator, named Albert, was 11 feet long and weighed 750 pounds.

The owner, Tony Cavallaro, had allegedly allowed children to swim with the reptile in his homemade pond. Albert suffered blindness in both eyes amongst other illnesses at the time of his capture. According to Cavallaro, he legally owned Albert until his license expired in 2021. He claims he delayed his renewal due to changes in the Department of Environmental Conservation’s rules.

Cavallaro owned Albert for 34 years, who is fighting back online with a group of supporters.

“As everyone has probably already heard The DEC and SPCA took Albert away from me saying that I put people in harm’s way with him. Every one who has met Albert or knows Albert knows that this is not true. I took care of him better than most people take care of their kids.”

The DEC says they seized Albert after they learned the “extent at which the owner was seriously endangering the public.”

“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,” it said in a statement.