Man Sleeps in Bed With an ‘Emotional Support’ Alligator – and He’s Not Even from Florida

A man who drew stunned reactions at a Philadelphia-area water park over the weekend by walking a leashed alligator has revealed he even sleeps with the animal.

The surprising twist: this reptile enthusiast lives in Pennsylvania — not Florida.

The phrase “Florida Man” has become shorthand for bizarre, over-the-top headlines involving strange and sometimes reckless behavior. A quick search of the term usually turns up stories featuring unusual encounters with wildlife, particularly alligators.

So when a Washington Post story appeared with the headline, “His emotional support animal is an alligator. They sleep in the same bed,” it would have been easy to assume the subject lived in the Sunshine State.

Instead, reporter Cathy Free profiled Joseph Henney, 69, of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, and his unusual companion, an alligator named WallyGator.

Henney has taken legal steps to have WallyGator recognized as an emotional support animal. According to the Post, the alligator accompanies him on errands like grocery shopping and walks in the park. At home, the two sit together on the couch to watch television and share the same bed.

Henney said WallyGator is gentle and sociable, often interacting calmly with people who are willing to get close.

“When he turns his nose toward you, that means he expects a kiss,” Henney told the Post. “He’s super sweet-natured.”

He also cautioned that owning an alligator is not something most people should attempt.

“He’s a very special gator, but I wouldn’t recommend that anyone get one,” Henney said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, you will get bit.”

WallyGator attracted attention on social media after visitors spotted the animal on a leash at a Philadelphia-area water park.

There is, however, a Florida connection to the story. Henney said his relationship with WallyGator began in 2015, when a friend in Florida asked if he could take in several alligators that had been found in a pond in Orlando.

Now seven years old, WallyGator is legally owned by Henney under Pennsylvania law.

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