A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator helps him deal with his depression.

Joie Henney, 65, said his registered emotional support animal named Wally likes to snuggle and give hugs, despite being a 5-foot-long alligator. The York Haven man said he received approval from his doctor to use Wally as his emotional support animal after not wanting to go on medication for depression, he told Philly.com.

sa国际传媒淚 had Wally, and when I came home and was around him, it was all OK,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淢y doctor knew about Wally and figured it works, so why not?sa国际传媒�

Wally was rescued from outside Orlando at 14 months old and is still growing; Henney said Wally could be 16 feet long one day. Henney says Wally eats chicken wings and shares an indoor plastic pond with a smaller rescue alligator named Scrappy.

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Wally, who turns 4 this year, is a big teddy bear, in Henneysa国际传媒檚 words. The cold-blooded reptile likes to rest his snout on Henneysa国际传媒檚, and sa国际传媒渉e likes to give hugs,sa国际传媒� he said.

The alligator has never bitten anyone and is even afraid of cats, according to Henney.

Henney acknowledged that Wally is still a dangerous wild animal and could probably tear his arm off, but says hesa国际传媒檚 never been afraid of him.

Henneysa国际传媒檚 background also indicates a comfort with creatures like Wally. He hosted a show called sa国际传媒淛oie Henneysa国际传媒檚 Outdoorssa国际传媒� on ESPN Outdoors from 1989 to 2000, according to the York Daily Record.

Henney frequently takes Wally out for meet-and-greets at places like senior centres and minor-league baseball games.

sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 just like a dog,sa国际传媒� Henney told a woman at a recent outing to a senior centre. sa国际传媒淗e wants to be loved and petted.sa国际传媒�

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Information from: Philly.com, http://www.philly.com/

The Associated Press

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