A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator is no longer welcome at a local Walmart after photos of the unusual pet caused a stir among shoppers.
Wesley Silva, 60, of West Brownsville, shared that his 5-foot-long, 32-pound gator named Jinseioshi has been banned from the Walmart just south of Pittsburgh. Silva said the reptile, often dressed in clothing and leashed, had never caused problems during their public outings before. “We’ve gone to restaurants,” Silva told WPXI. “We’ve been to Denny’s, where she’s a star. She gets VIP treatment.”
Earlier this month, startled Walmart customers snapped photos of Jinseioshi inside a shopping cart, once wearing a gray dress and another time sporting a shirt with a harness.
But Walmart quickly put an end to future visits. In a statement, the retailer said, “The safety of our customers and associates is our highest priority. We welcome service animals in our stores, but it is unacceptable to expose members of the public to potential danger. Accordingly, alligators are not permitted on our premises.”
According to Walmart’s policy, only service animals recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act — typically dogs and miniature horses — are allowed in stores.
Despite the ban, Silva remains upbeat. “I’ll just go with the flow,” he said. He claims public response has been overwhelmingly positive since he adopted Jinseioshi nearly four years ago, after a neighbor could no longer care for her. “I did some research. I have kids of my own, and I didn’t want to put anyone in jeopardy. After looking into it, I said, you know what? I’ll take her.”
Since then, Silva and his gator have frequented local restaurants and taken strolls around town. The Walmart ban won’t change that, he says.
While alligators can grow up to 12 feet and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds, Pennsylvania law doesn’t prohibit owning them. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission confirms that there are no state regulations against keeping alligators, as long as they aren’t released into the wild.
This isn’t the first time an emotional support alligator has made headlines in the state. In 2023, a Phillies fan was turned away from Citizens Bank Park when he attempted to bring his gator to the game.
