MILWAUKEE, Wis. - An animal living in a Milwaukee home really belonged in a zoo.
Police have confiscated a five foot long, 70 pound alligator, who is now resting comfortably at a domestic animal control shelter.
The homeowner says he is upset because the animal, named "Wally-Gator," was considered part of the family. He says Wally was living on a diet of fish, crickets and frozen rats.
Animal control says keeping alligators as pets is common, but not legal.
"It's kind of interesting, because we may not see one for 2, 3, 4 months. And then all of the sudden in a month's time we'll get 3 or 4 of them," said John McDowell of Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control.
Wally's owner says he and his family didn't know keeping an alligator as a pet was illegal.
Police have not said how they were tipped off to the presence of the illicit pet.
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