All of a sudden, environmental authorities have confiscated a huge 11-foot, 750-pound Albert Alligator Hamburg NY from a house in Hamburg, which is a town to the south of Buffalo. The person who owns this alligator as a pet for more than 30 years has been keeping it at their home.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation explained the confiscation of Albert Alligator Hamburg NY by stating that the boss did not adhere to rules about keeping dangerous animals. They said this person who remains unidentified publicly, let public people, even kids, touch an alligator which was free in a pool made for it alone.
The DEC said the Albert Alligator Hamburg NY owner’s license to keep it expired in 2021. They tried getting a new one, but their application was not complete because of new rules asking for certain safety precautions which this person’s place did not meet.
These rules are made so that people are protected from any danger caused by dangerous animals like alligators.
The taking over of the Albert Alligator Hamburg NY was done by Environmental Conservation Officers, in partnership with Hamburg Police Department and Erie County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. DEC stated that Albert had many health problems like not seeing in both eyes and problems with his spine.
After the seizure, Albert Alligator Hamburg NY was moved to a caretaker facility that has proper licensing. Here, he will get the needed medical attention and care until a permanent placement can be organized for him. The DEC stressed that taking away the alligator was done due to concern for public safety and animal welfare.
The situation has caught a lot of attention from the public, with community members showing worry about what will happen to the alligator. There is even a formal request started for authorities to give Albert back to his old owner. Supporters of this idea say that the person who had him before took very good care of Albert and he doesn’t really pose danger towards public safety.
Yet, DEC continues to hold its ground and express that even if the owner had a correct license, any public interaction with alligators was completely forbidden. This is the reason for both taking away the permit and moving the animal elsewhere.
The taking away of Albert Alligator Hamburg NY has made people think about how exotic pet ownership is controlled and monitored in New York. The DEC said that keeping a “dangerous animal” such as an alligator is against the law in this state unless you have a Dangerous Animal License. To get this license, you must show special knowledge, training and safety methods for handling these creatures.
The future of Albert Alligator Hamburg NY is not known yet, as the investigation goes on. The DEC has said they will carefully study all proof and talk with a licensed veterinarian before deciding if there are any charges against the owner. At this time, attention continues to be put towards taking care of the alligator and tackling wider matters related to control of keeping exotic pets in our state.
