KOVR (West Sacramento, California) 10 February 06 Five Alligators Seized From Vacaville Home
Meet Ray and this is Randy--or is this one Ray? Probably the only person who can tell is their former owner!
“I've always been interested in different animals and these are real neat and different,” said Craig Mitchell, loves alligators.
When Craig learned he could get live alligators online from a Florida company, he snapped up the opportunity. He ordered four of these critters and even built them an indoor pond at his Vacaville home.
“Anything I get as far as animals are concerned, I'll take care of them as best I can,” said Craig.
But his love for these reptiles has the law snapping at his heels. It's illegal to own an alligator without a permit in California.
When a delivery company noticed yet another odd-shaped package, it decided to call animal control.
“In one way I was glad we could get them out of the public but I was real surprised,” said Marcel Harnois, Solano County animal control. “Some of the larger ones were a little more mad than the other ones.”
Marcel seized a total of five alligators--some two and a half feet long. They're now being rehabilitated in San Franciso's Steinhart Aquarium.
The law may take a big bite out of Craig's wallet since possessing each alligator is a misdemeanor. But Mitchell says the real hole is in his heart.
“People don't think of them as pets but you get used to anything you take care of,” said Craig.
Craig also had a number of snapping turtles which are also illegal to own. He says that he found a company selling them online and thought it was legal to buy them. He hadn't quite thought out what he'd do once those alligators started growing; they can grow to be 16 feet long.
Five Alligators Seized From Vacaville Home