Emotional Support Alligator Helps Elderly Man Overcome Depression

This is a new one that I have never heard of! An emotional support alligator helps an elderly man overcome depression.

God never ceases to surprise us as to how He can use His unexpected creatures for His greater purposes. A man is on a sidewalk strolling down the street with his pet alligator on a leash. 

We see the response of some high school students. One girl has her jaw dropped open. Suddenly, a little boy gets scared. 

Joe Hanny is an alligator expert. He does an interview on the front porch and shows that this alligator is different from others. He does not bite. He refuses to close his mouth when you put your hand inside, and they do not know why.

Wally is the alligator’s name, and he had to be retired but had nowhere to go, so Joe adopted him as his own pet. We see the gator in a tub in Joe’s living room in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Wally loves to eat chicken and Cheetos. 

Joe talks about how Wally is his emotional support alligator. Joe lost loved ones and became depressed. During his time of struggle, Wally became more comforting and loving. 

Joe shares an endearing story about falling asleep and Wally would be laying on his head, and he would have a paw print on his face. Wally goes everywhere with Joe, to the doctor, the waterpark and has even been a ring bearer in a wedding. Joe says that his depression has significantly improved because of Wally.

This is nothing short of a miracle of God. It is not natural for an alligator not to bite. The Lord has clearly provided for this man in a unique way, and this can remind us, too that Christ cares for all of our needs.

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds.” Luke 12:24