TikTok star Wally the alligator is licensed emotional support animal — and loves hugs
Despite a mouth full of teeth, Wally doesn’t bite. Be careful though — he is known for stealing people’s hearts.
Wally, a 4-foot-long alligator, has thousands of followers on TikTok. He’s a licensed emotional support animal and when he isn’t visiting nursing homes or swimming with children, he’s accompanying his owner to cancer radiation treatments, his owner Joie Henney shared on TikTok.
Henney, who lives in York, Pennsylvania, adopted Wally from a friend during a difficult period in his life, he told 60 Second Docs.
“Wally puts lot of joy in my life,” Henney told 60 Second Docs. “I take him everywhere.”
The gator has been a welcome visitor in the hospitals for Henney’s doctor visits and even gets invites to visit restaurants, according to his TikTok videos.
“I saw your story and it melted my heart,” one person told Henney on Facebook. “I had no idea they could be so loving, now I know this it turns my idea of how they behave…you are so lucky to have each other.”
Wally is 7 years old and is in the running for America’s Favorite Pet contest, WTXF-TV reported. People can vote for their favorite animal in the contest, which opened on Aug. 22 and will progressively narrow down the contestants throughout September and October.
“WallyGator is an amazing creature. He senses people emotions and gives hugs to try to cheer people up,” Henney wrote on Wally’s contestant page. “He has been a huge support for me during my battle with cancer. He has come with me to radiation and has brought cheer to other patients and the doctors and nurses.”
Wally is first in his group in the competition, where he’s up against the likes of both cats and dogs as well as the more exotic hairless rats and bearded dragons, as of Aug. 26, according to the America’s Favorite Pet webpage.
“We could all use a Wally,” someone commented on the gator’s TikTok page.
This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 3:30 PM with the headline "TikTok star Wally the alligator is licensed emotional support animal — and loves hugs."
