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STANDARD SPEAKER (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) 23 June 10 Hazleton man must move pet gator out of city shop (Kelly Monitz)
A Hazleton businessman who created a habitat for his pet alligator in a shop window got a warning from city officials on Tuesday.
Charles Natale, who owns the Diamond Avenue Swap Shop, bought the 7-month-old alligator named T-Rex in Hamburg 10 days ago and placed him in the window next to his 111 E. Diamond Ave. business.
Outdoor carpeting lines the shop window, where the small, black gator lounged in a tub of water surrounded by green plants.
"I walk him, but (the city is) going to fine me," Natale said.
Alligators and similar critters aren't allowed in the city, though. Health Officer Mark Thompson explained that they're outlawed under the city's Exotic Animal Ordinance.
"He has three days to get rid of it," Thompson said.
Natale needs more time than that to construct a fence on property he has in Conyngham, he said. He plans to fence in a pond on the property and release the alligator, which will be able to eat fish in the pond, he said.
T-Rex eats goldfish now, Natale said, and he was told to feed him a piece of chicken twice a week.
The alligator tried to wiggle free from Natale's grip when he took him out of the habitat, but he kept a firm hand on his pet. "I'm not afraid of anything," he said.
A man living in an apartment above the shop said, "Natale loco," and indicated with his hand that he thought he was crazy.
Natale expects to pay a fine because he doesn't think he'll have an enclosure ready for T-Rex in three days.
Hazleton man must move pet gator out of city shop

Since when is an American Alligator considered an exotic species, even in Pa?

It's the Catch 22. Can't keep Native. Nonnative considered Exotic and can't keep Exotic, either.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
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