Posted on 12/21/2016 4:49:49 PM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
After months of negotiation with state officials, a Florida woman has finally received a license allowing her to keep her pet alligator.
The gentle gator named Rambo is "like a dog" and loves being petted and going for walks on a leash, according to his owner, Mary Thorn, 55, of Lakeland, Florida. Rambo is ... a local celebrity and has been the star of small shows... for a few charities and organizations... The "trained" gator has even been photographed "riding an ATV" along with her on her motorcycle, Thorn said.
But earlier this year, in March, the gator garnered national attention when Thorn said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) denied her a permit to keep him....she had a permit to keep the 15-year-old American alligator ever since she rescued and brought him home... seven years ago -- when Rambo was just... a foot long. However, the gator has grown to 6 feet, and... gators over 6 feet needed to be kept on a property with at least 2.5 acres....
...Thorn had re-applied for a permit,....after months of negotiating with the FWC, Thorn recently received news she would be allowed to keep Rambo...."authorizing Thorn to possess an American alligator known as 'Rambo'" at her home address. The main difference... this [license] does not authorize Thorn to exhibit Rambo in public for classes or charity, Shenan told ABC News.
"It's a little unfortunate because Rambo has brought a lot of joy to the community, but [Thorn] is of course very happy she isn't losing him," Shenan said. Thorn said...she was "so glad that Rambo gets to stay home for the holidays."
"He is my baby," she said. "It's the best Christmas gift not having to worry anymore."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
They’re going to find the woman in Rambo’s stomach one day. Gators are not sweet, they’re not funny and they shouldn’t be around humans.
Betty White at Lake Placid?
Alligator and cute should not be in the same sentence.
There’s nothing cute about it.
Anything for revenue.
In walked the doctor
In walked the nurse
In walked the lady....
I’m sure the gator will never get any bigger, and will always remain the same, smallish (for the species) size.
Can’t fix stupid.
Ain’t worse than a dingo eating a baby.
Mine kills squirrels. Apart from that, he’s a sweet guy.
To each his own, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has agreed to let her keep her pet.
Can’t fix stupid.
________________
Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?
Darwin award in waiting.
They get up to 10’, and rarely 14’.
My German Shepherd acquired a taste for woodchucks.She’s VERY good at knocking them off.
Eyes of a future Darwin award winner...
Alligators, black widow spiders and rattlesnakes. All great pets it you are insane.
As a native Floridian, I concur with your stats. I also note that gators are not very intelligent. At some point its instincts will overrule its peanut brain, and it will do what gators do.
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