Wally, the “Gentle Emotional Support Alligator,” is Missing
Remember Wally, the alligator? Of course you do.
The 5-foot-6 alligator was the first reptile to be certified as an emotional support animal. He has thousands of fans on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. “Wally Gator” was also the real-world visual reference for the alligator in the Disney show of the same name. It was part of “The Nexus Event” and “Journey into Mystery” episodes.
The 70-pound Pennsylvania resident has been making quite a splash on social media. But this time, it’s not for his smiling, content face.
According to social media posts by his owner, Joie Henney, Wally was kidnapped and randomly released into someone else’s backyard. When the residents of the home discovered the animal, they called the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which promptly sent over a trapper. Not knowing that the alligator belonged to someone, the trapper retrieved Wally and set him free in a swamp.
A spokesperson for DNR confirmed that they responded to a “nuisance alligator call” and the alligator was “later released in a remote location.”
However, they did not confirm if the animal they encountered was Wally.
DNR also allegedly told Henney that “he will be prosecuted” if he can catch Wally.”
The hope of his retrieval seems bleak, but Henney is hoping to beat the odds. On a Facebook post dated May 6, he wrote:
“Hi everyone, as each day passes and it comes time to give an update that everyone looks for it gets harder for me to say the same thing…there is nothing new to say.
We have reached out to several attorneys and are waiting to hear back, so that’s a positive that things are moving forward in the right direction. As I have said multiple times, no one will tell us where Wally is, but we all know they know.
Honestly, I would think with the world watching that they would wish to come out as heroes and end this for everyone instead of doubling down. I wholeheartedly believe since they know where Wally is that they are checking on him probably daily.
So I say this, if anyone in that area happens to notice DNR in an area you don’t usually see them in until recently, let us know because maybe that will lead us to Wally. Maybe I’m grasping at straws but I’m open for suggestions.”
The Wallygator Facebook page also urged people to help Henney #bringwallyhome, describing him as unlike any other alligator. “You can reach in and rub his tongue, he refuses to close his mouth, but we don’t know why,” he explained.
There’s currently a $1,000 reward for information about the surprisingly cuddly creature who has reportedly helped ease Henney’s depression.
They’ve also requested well-wishers to “pray because we need a miracle,” likely because the chances of finding Wally “is slim to none.”
As of May 3, more than 400 people have donated over $13,000 to an online GoFundMe campaign for “travel costs, advising costs, and possible legal and veterinary costs” related to the disappearance of the reptile loved by many.
