Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Twitter Erupts After Someone Brought Their 'Emotional Support Alligator' To A Philadelphia Park

Twitter Erupts After Someone Brought Their 'Emotional Support Alligator' To A Philadelphia Park
ABC7/Twitter

Brace yourselves, this is an alligator story that has absolutely nothing to do with Florida.

Twitter absolutely lost its mind over the weekend when Joie Henney allowed his emotional support alligator, WallyGator, to have some fun at Love Park in Philadelphia.


This short clip shows Wally walking with a young girl through the splashpad, which is full of other children and some adults.

Interestingly, people seemed to take the fact federally registered emotional support alligators exist pretty easily.

It was how this particular emotional support alligator—a young male named Wally Gator—was existing that people took a bigger issue with.

Video shows the gator being walked by a child and hanging out in the splash pad area with children. Reports in the Philly Voice indicate Wally was also passed around to multiple strangers to be pet and walked.

Wally's mouth was not secure for any of this and he had no protection on his feet or underbelly, both of which were on hot concrete throughout his park trip. Concrete is widely considered inappropriate and damaging for reptile skin, particularly if it's too hot.

So while some people were shocked...

...others seemed annoyed about the situation.

To them, this was an unnecessary health risk for both the humans and for Wally the alligator.

As usual, Twitter had no problems sharing opinions.


Mind you, just because people dislike the way Henney handles Wally, doesn't mean people don't love the gator.

It's because people are #TeamWally that they get so irritated with the way he is managed.

People love the gator—they're out here cheering for him in the best ways.


Henney isn't too concerned with what people have to say about how he handles WallyGator. 

He believes he "knows" the gator and the animal doesn't need to have his mouth secured in order to be passed around to strangers with no handling experience. He also doesn't seem worried about any liability or possible danger to Wally.

Henney says alligators are actually easier to train than dogs. 

Wally's journey as an emotional support animal started when Joie Henney began struggling with his mental health.

Rather than take the medications his doctor suggested, Henney opted to lean into his love of animals—specifically Wally the alligator. Henney and his family agree the change has been drastic, and WallyGator does seem to behave more like a dog than an alligator.

You can watch a segment about the pair here.

www.youtube.com

Still, Twitter doesn't seem overly comfortable with the way this wild animal is living.

More from Trending

Archbishop Thomas Wenski; David and Rena Mourer visit the entrance to "Alligator Alcatraz"
Joe Raedle/Getty Images (both)

Archbishop Rips 'Alligator Alcatraz' In Powerful Statement Condemning Trump's Immigration 'Enforcement Tactics'

Historically conservative Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami issued an official statement on Thursday, July 3, addressing immigration enforcement tactics employed by the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump.

Posted on the Archdiocese's website, it was also shared on the Archbishop's personal X account.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Nancy Mace
David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Hilariously Claps Back At Nancy Mace After Her Cringey 'Don't California My South Carolina' Debate Challenge

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was widely mocked after she challenged California Governor Gavin Newsom to a debate—only for him to directly address her "Don't California My South Carolina' campaign with a list showing the stark differences between their two states.

Mace posted a video on X in which she extends a "FORMAL INVITATION" for Newsom to debate her "common sense policies," chiding him with the following message:

Keep ReadingShow less
office cubicles
Paymo on Unsplash

Things Toxic Coworkers Did That Made The Whole Office Go Silent

Workplaces have professional standards to maintain, or at least they should. While it's great to have fun in the office, there are some things that are appropriate during leisure time that aren't OK at work.

But some people never seem to get the memo.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Andrew Schulz
Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Flagrant Podcast

Trump-Supporting Podcaster Andrew Schulz Turns On Trump In Mind-Numbing Rant

Conservative podcaster Andrew Schulz had social media users rolling their eyes after he criticized President Donald Trump, saying Trump is "doing the exact opposite" of everything he promised during his campaign, like stopping wars and shrinking spending.

Which begs the question: why tf did Schulz believe a word Trump said during his campaign, since he is a well-known serial liar and con man?

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @brigchicago's TikTok video
@brigchicago/TikTok

Plane Passengers Floored Over Flight Attendant's Suggestion While Stuck In 130 Degree Heat

Imagine being on time for your flight, only for takeoff to be delayed while the plane sits on the tarmac, with temperatures inside the plane cabin climbing to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Due to sweltering heat and complications, TikToker @brigchicago and her fellow passengers waited for their flight to take off. Whie the flight attendants did what they could to keep everyone calm and patient, some found their comments to be disingenuous.

Keep ReadingShow less