HAMBURG, N.Y. — A Hamburg fundraiser 400 people strong has one unifying message, "Bring Albert Home."
The group raised money for Tony Cavallaro’s legal fees, while he fights the DEC to bring back his pet alligator.
The people attending the fundraiser all shared a similar sentiment with their respected reptile.
“This is a great cause, he’s gotta get his alligator back,” Russ Scinta said.
“Yes, I have met him, as have my kids, and there’s no reason that he shouldn’t have Albert, he’s a pet,” Sara Kurtz said.
“We love Tony. We feel so bad about Albert,” Anna Marie Sinatra said.
In March, Cavallaro’s 11-foot, 750-pound pet alligator was seized from his home in Hamburg by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in part because Cavallaro's license to possess the gator had expired in 2021.
WATCH: 11-foot, 750-pound alligator seized from Hamburg home
Cavallaro has been fighting every day to get his pet of over 30 years back, and his friends like Dan Ranger and Doug Widdowson feel that they couldn’t let him do this on his own.
“I feel bad for Albert, gets thrown in the back of a van, whisked away and they won’t tell [Cavallaro] where [Albert is],” Ranger said.
“We said 'let’s do a fundraiser,' and let’s bring some attention to this,” Widdowson said. “Let’s hold the DEC accountable.”
Together, the two of them hosted an event to help with Cavallaro’s legal fees, which are trying to bring the alligator back to his house.
Over 400 people attended Sunday’s event at the VFW Post 1419.
Selling tickets for a $25 minimum, the group raised over $10,000 on admissions alone, before counting additional support from the several basket raffles.
Cavallaro was so touched that his friends and surrounding community members would do this for him.
“Everyone, thank you so much. I can’t say it enough,” Cavallaro said. “Financially, I’m fine, but it shouldn’t be on me, [the DEC] are the ones that caused this, so everybody is helping out and it means the world.”
This isn't the first time the community has rallied around Cavallaro. In March, shirts and lawn signs were being sold and proceeds were for the effort to have Albert the Alligator returned.
WATCH: Hamburg community rallies in support of returning 'Albert the Alligator' to his owner
Documents obtained by the 7 News I-Team show Cavallaro repeatedly contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for assistance renewing his license after he failed to comply with new regulations.
Two weeks ago, Basil Seggos, the former DEC commissioner, told 7 News that safety has to be the number one priority.
“It pulls on the heartstrings always, but for us the law and regulations are clear. If there’s an individual maintaining a situation we don’t believe is safe, we need to step in and create a safe situation for the public.”
Cavallaro holds that his pet was never dangerous. He hasn’t lost hope in getting the gator back and finding out where he is being held. He hopes to have answers soon.
