Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Alligators Are Not Pets!


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 :(

11 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, who thinks an alligator makes a good pet??? Some people are plain nuts!

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  2. The poor gators! They are cute as babies, but still have a wicked bite at a young age. People are crazy! Who has room to care for a full size alligator? I imagine these guys will be headed to a zoo, or hopefully back home in the south. I cannot believe you have gators in your clinic in Indiana! (but the proof is in the cage lol) How bizarre!!!

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  3. Those babies ARE cute, but you're right...we have to think of their welfare and the fact that they WILL grow up and NOT be so cute! Poor things! Glad you can help them.

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  4. That's sad, unless you have some sort of alligator farm/sanctuary/zoo they belong in the wild!

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  5. It is awful when people buy pets without having the foresight to think about what will happen when they get bigger. :( At least these guys ended up with you and will get back into their natural environment soon.

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  6. What is wrong with people???!?!

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  7. THANK YOU. I hate when people take wild animals and keep them as pets. Like chimpanzees. How in the world could that be a good idea.

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  8. Oh dear, those poor alligators! It's good they are with you until they can be released back into their own natural environment, where they belong and will be happy.

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  9. What? The cruelty of people. I bet the person that killed that 'gator thought he was being a real nice guy by keeping it from hurting any humans or pets.
    I am glad folks have a vet like yours to help.

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  10. Well at least the owners of these two had the good sense to turn them over to you instead of taping their mouth shut and dumping in the river. That is insane. I personally would never even consider trying to have a pet like that

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  11. Poor gator :(
    a lot of exotics DO NOT make good pets and i wish that people would learn this. it does more harm than good.

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