750-pound alligator removed from a home in New York after owners permitted public to pet it in their outdoor pool without a permit

On March 13, authorities in upstate New York removed a 750 lb. alligator from a home in the town of Hamburg, just outside of Buffalo.

The alligator was approximately 11 feet long.

According to conservation officials, the owner of the home had built an addition to his house and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the roughly 30-year-old alligator, and, without a permit, allegedly allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator.

11-foot, 750-pound alligator illegally kept at a residence in the town of Hamburg. (Environmental Conservation Police)

The permit that allowed the owner to have the alligator expired in 2021.

As a result, Hamburg police and the Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals intervened in rescuing the reptile.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said the reptile had many health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.

The alligator was placed under the care of a licensed caretaker until a long-term solution could be reached.

Officials stated, “Analysis of additional evidence seized during the warrant and consultation with a licensed veterinarian will determine any future potential charges,”