BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A man from Upstate New York is taking legal action against the state Department of Environmental Conservation after his 750-pound alligator, Albert, was seized. The man, Tony Cavallaro, alleges that the agency erred in not renewing his license to keep the pet he had cared for over three decades.
In March, conservation officers entered Cavallaro’s home in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg, sedated the 11-foot alligator named Albert, taped his mouth shut, and took him away, citing the expiration of Cavallaro’s license in 2021. In response, Cavallaro filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court claiming that the agency’s decision to deny his license renewal was not based on facts, according to his attorney, Peter Kooshoian.
Kooshoian stated that they are aiming for the reinstatement of Cavallaro’s license to possess the animal and are prepared to negotiate or possibly go to court to have Albert returned. The DEC declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, reiterating their concerns about the alligator’s enclosure and health issues, which Cavallaro disputes.
Albert’s seizure, captured on video, and Cavallaro’s posts showing affectionate interactions with the alligator sparked widespread support for the pair. Signs advocating for Albert’s return are displayed in the neighborhood, and Cavallaro continues to update over 4,500 followers on Facebook about his efforts.
Cavallaro acquired Albert, an American alligator, as a two-month-old at a reptile show in Ohio in 1990 and considers him an emotional support animal and a “gentle giant.” The license complication arose due to changes in regulations regarding the ownership of dangerous animals by the DEC in 2020. Despite the discrepancies, Cavallaro argues that the agency did not comply with its own licensing protocols for individuals who already possessed exotic animals when the regulations were modified.
Following the seizure, Albert was relocated to Gator Country, a rescue facility in Beaumont, Texas, where visitors can engage with alligators and other reptiles. Cavallaro expressed disappointment at the situation, describing it as a significant setback.