Meet ‘Wally’ – The Emotional Support Alligator That Peacefully Swims With Children

When you have viewed as many videos as we have of alligators taking a swipe with their huge jaws, this footage is just incredible. This is ‘Wally’ the super-friendly gator who just refuses to bite anyone and seems to love human company. As amazing as this may sound, this loving reptile provides emotional support to his owner and has a huge following on social media.

Click the Link Below to Watch This Fascinating Video!

Alligators as Pets?

Alligators are not generally considered great pets! They are a member of the Crocodilia order that also includes crocodiles and the black caiman. They can live for over 60 years, grow to over 15 feet, and have very sharp teeth!

It is actually illegal to own an alligator in some US states and they have been responsible for numerous attacks on humans over the years including some fatalities. They have very strong jaws with a powerful bite and a muscular tail that can knock you over.

They are also usually aggressively defensive and will attack to protect themselves. If you are thinking of taking on a gator, you need a lot of time and expert knowledge. You also need to provide them with the correct environment. They need a large area of water, logs, live plants, running water and the correct diet. Most experts agree that if you want to learn more about gators, volunteer at your local zoo or reptile rescue center rather than getting your own!

Wally Is an Exceptional Alligator

Wally is not your average alligator. His owner Joseph Henney has described how they first met. This gator is now seven years old and five and a half feet long. They met back in 2015 when Joseph was asked to take in some alligators that had been found in a pond in Florida. His hobby was caring for reptiles and he had been helping to relocate them for the last 30 years. He bonded with the then 14-month-old Wally and decided to keep him. He also noticed that Wally never tried to bite him and would not eat live rats – he preferred cheesy popcorn!

Soon, Wally started following Joe around the house and seemed to enjoy being held. When Joe suffered a series of bereavements in 2017, Wally tried to do things to cheer him up!

He has turned into an emotional support alligator and started to attend swim parties, schools, and summer camps. We see him here in a pool with two little girls and when asked why they think Wally is so nice one answers “I think because he was born nice.”

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Steve Byland/Shutterstock.com