8-Foot Alligator Confined to a Basement for 12 Years Rescued Following Owners’ Divorce; Why It’s Not Safe to Pet Gators?

Another gator was rescued after its previous owners' divorced. Initially, the animal control officers were expecting a 5-foot alligator, but it was three feet bigger.

Alligator Rescued in Philadelphia

Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly, spoke with Fox News Digital about the rescue operation. According to her, they walked up to a padlocked room.

The gator was contained in a little window on the door, similar to prisons in movies. According to her, they kind of peered into it.

The original call to ACCT Philly requested the removal of a 5-foot gator. The owner's ex-wife reportedly called to rescue the gator because she didn't want the beast to still stay at her house following their divorce.

The woman added that she had nothing to do with the feeding and caring of the reptile that had been living in their basement for over a decade. Barnett said the gator had likely not been fed in a month, but it was "relatively healthy."

However, Barnett and her team knew that the beast named Big Mack would be bigger than what was reported. She remembered the gator sitting inside its room looking out.

She was sad as she reflected on its condition because gators are smart, but it was placed in a less-than-ideal environment, which they didn't deserve.

Big Mack measures 8 feet long and weighs 127 pounds. It has been there for 12 years already. Due to its massive size, it took three people to move him into the animal control truck.

Rescuing Big Mack was nerve-wracking. The gator was reportedly very stressed and even twisted around a bit on the catch pole.

To catch the gator, they placed one person on the back to restrain him, Barnett sat on the tail, and another taped his mouth.

Barnett said they could hear him hissing. They wished they could speak to Big Mack and assure him they were moving him to a place better than his current home.

Initially, they planned to move Big Mack to a Michigan sanctuary. However, the plane wasn't big enough to carry him, so they decided to create a habitat for him at the shelter.

Big Mack was reportedly comfortable and relaxed in his new home. He was the third alligator ACCT Philly rescued this month alone, New York Post reported.

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Why Are Alligators Not a Great Choice for Pets?

The rescued alligator wasn't the first one raised as a pet. Earlier this year, a woman from Texas also raised an 8-foot alligator for over 20 years.

However, the gator was removed from her property and moved to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo because she didn't have proper permits.

Russ Johnson, president of the Phoenix Herpetological Society, reminded people that gators are terrible pets. Unlike dogs or cats, they don't return their owners' affection.

They could get cranky and bite when they aren't well-fed. He also likened them to deal with a dinosaur because they have strong jaws with 80 teeth and can easily break a human bone.

Also, they can grow up to 14 feet and live for 80 years. They need a large area to thrive and should be fed whole chickens or porks with bones for nourishment.