After two years of expensive legal battles against New York environmental officials, a Hamburg man abandoned his fight to reclaim his 750-pound pet alligator that state agents seized from his home swimming pool in 2024.

Three Decades With Albert Ends in Surrender

Tony Cavallaro, 66, cared for Albert the alligator for more than 30 years after acquiring the reptile as a two-month-old hatchling at an Ohio reptile show. The 12-foot animal lived in an indoor swimming pool at Cavallaro’s residence, where the owner regularly allowed visitors to enter the water and pet the massive creature. The Department of Environmental Conservation seized Albert in March 2024 after Cavallaro’s license to keep the dangerous animal expired in 2021.

Cavallaro filed suit against the state agency following the seizure, claiming Albert served as his emotional support animal and posed no threat to public safety. A New York State Supreme Court justice ordered the DEC to reconsider a renewed application within 30 days, but officials denied the request. Facing the prospect of filing yet another court application and accumulating additional legal expenses, Cavallaro chose to end the litigation.

Mounting Costs Force Difficult Decision

The emotional and financial toll of the legal battle ultimately convinced Cavallaro to give up his beloved companion. His attorney noted that continuing the fight would have required at least another year and a half of stressful litigation. Even if Cavallaro had prevailed in court, state regulations would have severely restricted how he could interact with Albert. Allowing people to swim with and pet the alligator violated DEC rules for handling dangerous animals.

Regulatory Oversight Would Have Limited Freedom

Cavallaro’s attorney explained that winning the case would have meant constant government supervision and strict requirements for Albert’s care. The DEC would have conducted regular inspections and imposed limitations on how Cavallaro could house and handle the reptile. After discussing all potential outcomes, Cavallaro and his legal team concluded the restrictions and ongoing battles were not worth pursuing. Albert now resides at a rehabilitation center in Texas, while Cavallaro maintains he never posed any danger during their three decades together and believes the government treated him unfairly.