9 alligators were found in a Pennsylvania home after a 6-foot one escaped and sought help from a neighbor.
Gators Galore: Alligator Takes Over Pennsylvania Porch
When a neighbor decides to camp out on someone else’s porch, it might be a big deal. But it’s definitely a bigger deal when the camping neighbor is an alligator.
Last week, Tony Gularsky, a resident of Kiski Township in western Pennsylvania’s Armstrong County, northeast of Pittsburgh, found out his porch had been occupied Thursday when a friend called him at home, according to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh.
“I got a phone call from a friend of mine who was going to come up and she says, ‘Whatever you do, don’t come out on your porch, there’s a gator out on your porch,’” he said.
“It was definitely crazy. It would’ve been a rude awakening if I would’ve walked out and seen it. I might’ve had a heart attack,” he said.
But he had to crack the door and peek, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“It was, I’d say, about five to six feet long,” Gularsky told the newspaper, noting that since neighbors down the road had been keeping alligators around, it was not a total shock.
“It was just a matter of time before they (got) loose,” Gularsky said. “I ended up being the unfortunate one — it had to be on my porch.”
Jason Pisarcik, a friend of Gularsky, said the alligator could not have been bypassed.
“It was stretched out in front of his doorway. He couldn’t get out (of his house) if he wanted to,” he said.
After nine alligators in all were rounded up, they were delivered to the temporary keeping of Nathan Lysaght, director of Nate’s Reptile Rescue in Allegheny County, just outside Pittsburgh, according to the Tribune-Review.
“The goal is to safely relocate the nine alligators to rescues in either South Carolina, Texas or Florida,” Lysaght told the newspaper in a story published Friday, noting that the animals had been living in a backyard swimming pool.
“They’re a little dirty from the pool water they were kept in. There was algae, but they’re all going to get baths today,” Lysaght said.
Although the state does not regulate alligator ownership, Kiski Township police Chief Lee Bartolicius told the Tribune-Review that the alligators were “a threat to public safety, and our officers quickly dispatched to handle the call of an alligator reported at a neighbor’s front door,”
Armstrong County Humane Officer Amber Phillips, who assisted in the process, said the removal was “exhausting and a slow process, but it was completed and no one was injured.”
Alligators “may not be an ideal pet, but they are creatures that matter and deserve the best, if nature can’t be it for them,” he told the newspaper. “I’m relieved they’re in a much better environment and are going to have a life they deserve in full when they’re transported to a sanctuary.”
Dominic Albert Hayward, 26, the owner of the alligators, has been jailed in the Armstrong County jail on charges of violating parole and faces charges from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission of improper transportation or sale of wildlife, according to the Tribune-Review.
It has been a hard time for Pennsylvania alligators. In late September, Joie Henney was not able to watch a Philadelphia Phillies home game because he was in the company of Wall, his emotional support alligator, according to CNN. Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park would not allow the reptile in.
Henney said Wally, who is somewhat of a social media personality, had been invited to meet the players, but they were late and missed their chance.
“So we bought tickets and Wally has been into other baseball games, so we assumed that it was OK,” Henney said. “We never asked or checked with it, but they only allow service animals, such as dogs and horses, into the stadium, not [emotional support] animals.
“Wally is an emotional support animal, not a service animal. People criticized me because they don’t know the story behind everything … but when they came and told us, there was no disagreement, there was no arguing, there was no conflict at all. It was all good,” he said.
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The post Gators Galore: 9 Recovered from PA Home After 6-Footer Breaks Free, Calls on Neighbor appeared first on The Western Journal.
What are the legal consequences for possessing wildlife without a permit in Pennsylvania, as in the case of the Sylvania Fish and Boat Commission?
Sylvania Fish and Boat Commission for possessing wildlife without a permit, according to the Tribune-Review.
The incident of alligators taking over a porch in Pennsylvania has gained widespread attention and sparked concerns about the ownership and treatment of exotic pets. Alligators are not native to Pennsylvania and require specific permits for ownership. This incident highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the potential dangers posed by exotic animals.
Tony Gularsky, the homeowner whose porch was occupied by the alligator, was fortunate to have received a call warning him about the unexpected visitor. It could have been a terrifying experience if he had encountered the reptile unaware. The presence of alligators in the neighborhood was not a complete surprise to Gularsky, as some of his neighbors were known to keep these animals. However, he never anticipated it happening on his own porch.
Jason Pisarcik, a friend of Gularsky, described the alligator’s position in front of the doorway, rendering it impossible for Gularsky to leave his house freely. This emphasizes the urgent need to address the situation and ensure the safety of both the residents and the animals involved.
Nine alligators were eventually rounded up and taken to the temporary care of Nathan Lysaght at Nate’s Reptile Rescue. Lysaght expressed his intention to relocate the alligators to rescues in South Carolina, Texas, or Florida, where they will receive proper care and an environment suitable for their needs. This relocation process includes cleaning the alligators since they were previously kept in a backyard swimming pool filled with dirty pool water and algae.
While alligator ownership is not regulated in the state of Pennsylvania, this incident highlights the potential threats to public safety associated with keeping exotic pets. Kiski Township police Chief Lee Bartolicius emphasized the need for immediate action, considering the alligators as a threat to the community. The removal process was said to be both exhausting and slow but was ultimately successful without any injuries.
The owner of the alligators, Dominic Albert Hayward, has been placed in jail for violating parole and may face additional charges related to possessing wildlife without a permit. This serves as a reminder that the ownership of exotic animals comes with legal responsibilities and consequences.
Armstrong County Humane Officer Amber Phillips, who assisted in the removal process, stressed the importance of treating all animals, regardless of their species, with care and respect. She expressed relief that the alligators will now be in a better environment and transported to a sanctuary where they can live a life they deserve.
This incident has sparked a broader conversation about exotic pet ownership and the potential risks associated with keeping animals that are not native to a particular area. It serves as a reminder for individuals to thoroughly research the legal requirements and responsibilities involved in owning exotic pets before bringing them into their homes.
The story of the alligators taking over a porch in Kiski Township, Pennsylvania, has captivated the attention of many, highlighting the need for awareness and responsible ownership when it comes to keeping exotic animals. This unusual incident serves as a reminder that wildlife should be respected in their natural habitats, and proper care and permits should be obtained if ownership is to be considered.
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