WEST BROWNSVILLE, Pa. — Photos provided exclusively to Channel 11 show an alligator, appearing to wear a dress in one photo and a harness with a leash in another, inside the West Brownsville Walmart last Friday.
“Nah, that’s something you probably see in Florida, but not here in Pennsylvania!” said Jason Scott, shopping at Walmart on Tuesday.
“I don’t think even in Florida they would have an alligator like that!” added his wife.
“I was impressed he got it into the harness,” Lindsay Frick said after shopping on Tuesday. “That was the most impressive thing.”
Channel 11’s Andrew Havranek spoke exclusively with the woman who sent those photos and saw the gator on Friday. She didn’t want to be identified.
“I looked and I saw this alligator dressed up, standing in there, and his mouth was sticking out of the buggy. I didn’t believe it,” she said.
Walmart’s website states that they only allow service animals outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those are dogs and miniature horses.
In a statement, Walmart said they are aware of the alligator.
“While we aim to be inclusive, the safety of our customers and associates is our top priority. We are reaching out to the state of Pennsylvania for additional guidance,” the company said.
Cienna Chefren with Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh said an alligator doesn’t fall into either category, under Pennsylvania or federal law.
“There is no predictability to how that animal is going to act when it’s around strange people, stressful environments, which Walmart is, so there are no precautions there, and that could be quite dangerous,” Chefren said.
The shopper who saw the alligator said she is worried for people’s safety, especially children.
“I don’t want to shop with alligators,” she said. “I don’t plan on shopping there anymore.”
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