'Dad' of Wally, the missing emotional support alligator, makes tearful plea for his return

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
4

It's been 11 days since Wally the headline-drawing emotional support alligator was reportedly kidnapped and stolen in Georgia. In an emotional plea on social media, his owner and "dad" is asking the public for help getting his pet back home.

As previously reported by USA TODAY, Wally whose nickname is Wallygator, vanished April 21 while he and his handler, Joie Henney, were visiting friends in the city of Brunswick on Georgia's southeast coast.

"I'm Wallygator's dad." he said in a video posted on TikTok through tears. "We need all the help we can get to bring my baby back. Please, we need your help."

See mammoth catch: New Richmond, Ohio teen lands record 101-pound blue catfish

Reward offered for Wallygator's safe return: 'No questions asked'

In the video, Henney said a reward is being offered for his safe return with "no questions asked."

Henney reported he organized a search party for Wally after a Georgia Department of Natural Resources official contacted him and said someone stole Wally with the intent of dropping him off in a resident's yard “to terrorize them."

The resident called authorities, a trapper responded, and then reportedly released Wally into a swamp.

The pet will likely not survive if he was left on his own in the wild, Henney posted on Facebook.

Panda fever: Two giant pandas headed to San Diego Zoo: Get to know Xin Bao, Yun Chuan

Who is Wallygator?

Wally, 8, is an emotional support animal that has comforted people at nursing homes and baseball games.

Henney adopted the four-foot long gator when it was just over a year old, he said in a 2019 story in the Daily Record.

His pet gator likes hugs and walks, and photos show him giving kisses to people in need.

The rescued gators adventures also include leashed park visits and supervised swimming stints, all chronicled on social media where Wally has tens of thousands of followers.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wally missing: The emotional support alligator's owner pleads for help