Wilkinsburg police grab a 4-foot alligator (Pet kidnapped from owner's backyard)

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Wednesday, August 06, 2003 | Eleanor Chute

[Willie Green]

Most officers don't learn how to wrestle an alligator at the police academy.

A task like that takes special training, like watching the Crocodile Hunter's "Croc Files" on the Discovery Channel.

That's how Wilkinsburg police officers knew what to do when they received a complaint about an alligator yesterday afternoon.

[Willie Green]

I don't care much for alligators as pets, but it wasn't hurting anybody in its own backyard.

[Willie Green]

Jagoff nebby neigbor alert!!!

[Willie Green]

Jagoff can't spell "neighbor" alert!!!

[cjshapi]

I used to drive thru Wilkinsburg every day to work. Somehow this really doesn't suprise me.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Police, as well as code enforcement officials, plan to investigate the ownership and whether any laws were broken.

Uhhh...

Does this mean they confiscated the animal with no idea whether a law was being broken or not?

If so, then it seems to me the ones breaking the law are the cops.

[1rudeboy]

. . . but it wasn't hurting anybody in its own backyard.

I think you meant to say "wasn't yet hurting anybody."

[Constitution Day]

Crikey!

[1rudeboy]

You have a fundamental misconception of the role of cops in our society. They are not in a position to adjudicate whether the ownership of the alligator is legal.

[AppyPappy]

Not yet. But it would.

[Willie Green]

It's only a four-footer.
I figger its gotta be safer than any of the Pit Bulls, Dobermans or Rotweillers you're likely to find in the area.
It's not as if alligators are poisonous an'at.

[Night Hides Not]

Hear, hear! I can hear the drumbeat as we speak...

When alligators are outlawed, only outlaws will have alligators!

[1rudeboy]

I agree with you. But if, as the story alleges, the fence restraining this alligator was sub-standard, then the cops were well-within their authority to remove the reptile to a safer location. As they would have done so for a Rott, bull-terrier, etc.

[lowbridge]

Jagoff nebby neigbor alert!!!

My next door neighbor had a dog, with which he kept penned up at the side of his house. The isde of the house that my bedroom window looked over. The dog wasnt caged or leahed. It hasd free reign of the side of the house, but usually wasnt allowed into the much larger backyard. They didnt mistreat the animal. They kept it well fed, and cleaned up after it, BUT They almost NEVER played or interacted with the dog. Poor thing was lonely there day and night.

In really bad weather, when it rained or snowed, the dog would have to scratch at the door and whined alot to be let in out of the bad weather. The dog basically out of loneliness, barked at everything and everyone who passed by on the street. I had to put up with that constant barking day and night. Thankfully, my neighbor sold his house and moved, and took his dog with them. I thought I'd have some peace, but that was not to be. The guy who bought the house, had TWO dogs, and penned them on the same exact side of the house where the last dog was. And guess what? This new neighbor ALSO didnt bother with his dogs. And they barked like mad day and night at everything that moved.

And to make matters worse, those two dogs bred three more dogs! So, now I have 5 dogs underneath my window, barking like mad at everything and anything that moves or makes a sound.

I would gladly trade places with a guy who lives next door to a guy keeps an aligator as a pet in his yard. When it comes to aligators, their bite is worse than their bark.

[Willie Green]

But if, as the story alleges, the fence restraining this alligator was sub-standard

"Alleges" ????

If that's the determining criteria, the police have a LOT of dogs to round up.
I'd bet that over 80~90% of the fences in Wilkensburg were "sub-standard" in some way or another. It's not exactly the worst section of the 'Burgh. But the properties could use a good dose of fixin' up.

[Willie Green]

They didnt mistreat the animal. They kept it well fed, and cleaned up after it, BUT They almost NEVER played or interacted with the dog. Poor thing was lonely there day and night.

Goin' through the motions, but it's still no way to treat a pet.
Makes you wonder why they bother.
Sad. Very sad.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You have a fundamental misconception of the role of cops in our society. They are not in a position to adjudicate whether the ownership of the alligator is legal.

Gee, does that mean that cops never have to worry about whether their actions are illegal?

If it's NOT illegal to own an alligator, then the cops just perpetrated a theft.

[1rudeboy]

If I was a judge, I would contact the State Bar Association and inquire as to the status of your law-license.

Are you making the argument that the cops did not have the authority to remove the alligator? Or that they merely should have discussed their legal options with the Zoning Commission and the Asst. District Attorney first?

[Consort]

There is no such thing as a pet alligator.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If I was a judge, I would contact the State Bar Association and inquire as to the status of your law-license.

If I were your neighbor, I'd be checking for your name on the sex criminal registration list.

[1rudeboy]

Boy, that's sharp. Are you implying that such an alligator is in danger of rape from someone like me, much like the law is in danger of rape from the likes of you?