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.

91裸聊视频淚 had Wally, and when I came home and was around him, it was all OK,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淢y doctor knew about Wally and figured it works, so why not?91裸聊视频�

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 Henney91裸聊视频檚 words. The cold-blooded reptile likes to rest his snout on Henney91裸聊视频檚, and 91裸聊视频渉e likes to give hugs,91裸聊视频� 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 he91裸聊视频檚 never been afraid of him.

Henney91裸聊视频檚 background also indicates a comfort with creatures like Wally. He hosted a show called 91裸聊视频淛oie Henney91裸聊视频檚 Outdoors91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 just like a dog,91裸聊视频� Henney told a woman at a recent outing to a senior centre. 91裸聊视频淗e wants to be loved and petted.91裸聊视频�

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

The Associated Press

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