Philadelphia park goers trying to cool off from the heat were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief after they spotted a girl walking an ‘emotional support’ alligator.
Pennsylvanians trying to cool off in the fountains in their city centre were joined by an unlikely pet on Friday.
The reptile, named Wally, was a five-foot pet alligator used as an ‘emotional support’ animal.
LOVE Park, officially known as the John F Kennedy Plaza, was packed full of people in the city centre enjoying their afternoon.
But they could only stare as the alligator, wearing a harness and on a leash, was walked into the fountains and laid down on its belly to cool off.
The alligator was so friendly that it let random strangers not only pet it but pick it up and give it a cuddle.
Wally is owned by a man called Joie Henney and is famous locally, with local reports suggesting the young girl walking him Friday was related to him.
Henney said that Wally is federally registered as an emotional support animal and that it is easier to train alligators than dogs.
Britt Miller was walking her baby daughter in the park when she was stunned to spot the alligator. She told The Philly Voice : "We were just walking by LOVE Park and saw this kid playing with an alligator in the fountain.
"Of course, there was a ton of people around taking pictures. The girl (who had the alligator) seemed to be with her family, who were sitting off to the side. They were super friendly. People were picking up the alligator, petting it, all sorts of stuff."
Joie previously credited Wally with bringing him out of a “real hard depression” and because of this he got a letter from his doctor saying he could use Wally as his emotional support animal.
He owns a number of reptiles and it isn’t unusual for him to take Wally out for a walk or to the local mall.
When out and about he will let strangers pick up his beloved beast. Wally, 4, was a wild alligator and was rescued in 2016.
“He loves cuddling, he loves giving kisses, hugs, it’s incredible. He sleeps on the couch when he wants, he loves watching TV.”
In videos, Joie regularly showers Wally with kisses and cuddles. He has a TikTok account where he’s garnered billions of views.
