Man Fights To Keep Pizza-Eating Pet Alligator

A man says he will do whatever it takes to keep his pet alligator after Florida wildlife officials told him it was too big to roam in his garden.

Gwendolyn, a 47-year-old alligator who lives in Miami, isn’t your typical swamp-dwelling reptile.

The 13-foot-long creature munches on cookies, pizza and even went to college with his owner, according to WSVN. He doesn’t live in the wild, but in David Van Buren’s Coconut Grove backyard.

The pet gator has lived with Van Buren for nearly five decades, according to the report. But life for the animal – much like his scaly skin – can be rough.

At 13 feet, Gwendolyn has become too large to roam around Van Buren’s yard, state wildlife officials said. In order for Gwendolyn to continue swimming in his backyard pool, Van Buren would have to make changes to his property, according to the report.

Gwendolyn isn’t the first pet gator who’s run into trouble because of his size. Rambo, a pet gator belonging to Mary Thorn, encountered problems when wildlife officials said the reptile had grown too large to stay indoors. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, a six-feet-long pet alligator is required by law to have 2.5 acres of land at its disposal, the Orlando Sentinal reports.

Rambo’s situation is wrought with complications because of light sensitivity issues that make it difficult for him to be outdoors for too long, the report says. Thorn combats the problem by making sure Rambo wears sunscreen and isn’t outside for long stretches of time.  

Like Gwendolyn, Rambo also has some interesting quirks. The six-foot long gator rides on the back of a motorcycle and even wears clothes.