American Henny's emotional support animal is an alligator.

(Schematic diagram, AFP file photo)

◎Lin Yuxuan

Bystanders had an up-close and personal encounter with an alligator in Philadelphia's Love Park.

Bystanders had an up-close and personal encounter with an alligator at Love Park in Philadelphia.

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But the reptile isn't a wild beast: It's the emotional support animal of a Philadelphia man who runs several social media accounts documenting his loving relationship with Wally the alligator.

But the reptile isn't a beast: It's the emotional support animal of a Philadelphia man who has set up several social media accounts to document his bond with the alligator, Willie.

Wally was removed from a lagoon in Florida, said Henney, Wally's owner.

Willie's owner, Henny, said Willie was moved from a lagoon in Florida.

"He doesn't show anger. He doesn't show aggression. He hasn't since the day he was caught. We never could understand why," said Henney.

"Since the day he was caught, he wasn't angry, he wasn't aggressive. We never knew why," Henney said.

Wally's easygoing personality led Henney to have the gator licensed as an emotional support animal.

Willy's easy-going nature led Henny to own an alligator certified as an emotional support animal.

The alligator has provided comfort for him as he has suffered radiation treatments for cancer.

The crocodile offered him solace as he went through radiation therapy for cancer.

【News Dictionary】

cool off: verb phrase, calm down, cool off.

Example sentence: Give him few hours to cool off. (Give him a few hours to cool off.)

document: verb, record, record.

Example sentence: Those days on the sea have been well-documented in the shop's log. (The logbook records those days at sea in detail.)

lagoon: noun, lagoon.

Example sentence: There are lots of lagoons in the country. (There are many lagoons in this city.)