Frank Parlato
About 20 armed officers in full body armor led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation raided the Hamburg, NY, home of Tony Cavallaro and seized his 12-foot, 750-pound pet alligator, “Albert.”
The agency said Albert was illegally allowed to be around other people, some of whom petted him and got in the pool with him, which “was seriously endangering the public.”
After sedating the alligator, officers taped Albert’s mouth, put him in the back of a van, and drove away to deliver him to an undisclosed location.
The DEC said Albert has “blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.”
Cavallaro, who wants him returned, said Albert is not blind and is being treated for cataracts.
He added nothing was wrong with the alligator’s spine before being carried away.
Cavallaro feeds Albert a diet of raw chicken and pork chops supplemented by vitamins and is under the care of a veterinarian.
The agency said Cavallaro’s license to keep Albert had expired in 2021, and he failed to bring the holding area into compliance. Cavallaro built a $100,000 plus addition to his home with heated floors, a filtering indoor pond with a waterfall and spa jet, and tropical plants.
The department said in a statement that “public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for license revocation and relocation of the animal.”
Cavallaro, 64, and Albert, 34, have lived together since he purchased him in 1990 at an Ohio reptile show as a baby. Albert has never lived in the wild.
The DEC could produce no records showing Albert has harmed anyone during the 34 years Cavallaro has owned him.
“It’s ruining my life,” Cavallaro told the Washington Post. “I miss him so much… I can’t even explain it.”
Cavallaro hired an attorney to help him get Albert returned.
Over 133,000 people signed an online petition on Change.org for Albert to be returned to Cavallaro.
In an emotional interview, Cavallaro admitted Albert likes people, and he has allowed some people to pet Albert. He also said that Albert can recognize different people and especially loves his 84-year-old mother. He swims up to greet her when she visits. His mother used to watch Albert when Cavallaro went on vacation, he said. “She would sit in his room with him and read, with him laying his head on her foot.”
Cavallaro previously owned caimans, a monitor, and lizards. There are no records of any of these harming anyone.
DEC officials declined to say where Albert is being kept. In a statement, the agency incorrectly assumed their actions were final and not subject to a court hearing. The DEC only said he’s with “a licensed caretaker who will house and care for the animal until it can be properly transported for permanent care.”
Albert, at 12 feet, probably achieved his full size, which alligators generally do around the age of 35. Male alligators generally grow to between 11 and 12 feet. Females are generally smaller, usually not growing larger than 10 feet. But their fertility is longer than humans, with females still producing young up to 70 years of age.
Albert, at 34, is comparatively young. Alligators can live up to 100 years.
Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.
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Frank,
You’re so full of shit!
Alligators never “live up to 100 years”! If one does then that’s a miracle put in the newspapers (or whatever method of choice that you use for news)!
Alligators in the wild usually live somewhere in between 30-50 years if they’re lucky enough to survive all things in their environment that is after to kill them since they are born whether that be predators when their babies or even other alligators and human hunters, etc when they are adults. 50 years is considered a long life for an alligator out in the wild.
Alligators in protective captivity, granted that the people taking care of them actually knows what they’re doing and didn’t just slip through the cracks of the requirements by doing passing all the litigation and verifications by the bare skin of their ass, can live up 70. But that is very optimal thinking. 80 years in captivity is yet another news worthy miracle even with the best treatment of the animal as possible 24/7.
So where the hell did you get “100 years”, Frank?!
You need to get your facts straight and correct that asap!
If you choose to be stupid and not do anything despite a fair warning that you can go research yourself, then feel free to look like a dumb ass to anybody with a just little knowledge about alligators!
I’m just trying to help you not look like an idiot!
What do you mean alligators don’t live over 100 years?
Frank is 105!!!
Funny thing…
If he’d had a dog there’d be no issues.
Does he wear condoms? I now the alligator is a “he”, but you still have to worry about aids….
Pass at your own risk.. Fascinated by the fact the alligator has lived with the man without incident. The animal was apparently well cared for. Not exactly a cuddly creature , but the guy was caring well for the creature . Where the hell is domesticated alligator now? Like the guy won’t be noticed trying to carrying him back home.No transparency and no hearing.
Do we know what alligator kisser made the report? Who made the complaint?
Could they have given out a ticket and had a hearing on the matter?
Albert is likely dead already
The trauma inflicted physically and emotionally on this beloved pet endangers his life
He went from tropical temps to freezing during his abduction
The refusal to disclose his location is most sinister
Another NY SWAT released to intrude on the home and peace of innocent people
Our constitutional rights have been obliterated and we are living with a militant police who give no notice or warning
Was this the work of family court? Sounds like they’re taking a happy, loved, innocent alligator from a beloved parent who is healthy, wealthy and wise
Will he have to spend god life savings getting the alligator back?
Why the undisclosed location?
Sounds like sever animal abuse by governmental overreach
Don’t we have plenty of real crimes and risk of injury?
Is there a corrupt politician who has a hankering for alligator stew?
Feeding the many illegals they’ve snuck in to vote for Biden?