Dogs, cats, gerbils, birds, and even small snakes make good pets. But many animals, wildlife in particular, should never be turned into pets. Our newest residents at the clinic are two alligators. Both are about two to three feet long and not happy campers. They are stuck in cages with a tub of water until we can re-home them someplace where they can act like real alligators. They were purchased as small babies, and now the owners realize that they can no longer keep them.
People buy them when they are 6 or 8 inches long and they are so cute! But they grow and even though they are still cute, they become aggressive, and can get quite big.
Fortunately these two alligators are temporarily safe with us, and will go to a PROPER place to spend the rest of their lives. A couple weeks ago one alligator was not so lucky. He was much bigger and was found in a local river dead, with is mouth taped shut.
Some of the things I see on a daily basis at the clinic just breaks my heart :(