A Pennsylvania man was banned from a Walmart store after customers complained about seeing him shop with his emotional support alligator, store officials said.
Wesley Silva, 60, has for about three and a half years taken his 32-pound alligator, Jinseioshi, into businesses around his southern Pennsylvania community, including restaurants, the public library and other stores, WPXI reported. Silva has said the reptile is a local celebrity who often receives warm reactions and what he described as "VIP treatment" at a nearby Denny's.
The West Brownsville Walmart told customers in a statement that it had barred Jinseioshi from the premises, citing the safety of customers and associates as its highest priority. "We welcome service animals in our stores, but it is unacceptable to expose members of the public to potential danger," the store said, adding that alligators are not permitted on its premises. The statement noted that the Americans with Disabilities Act outlines which animals qualify as service animals, including dogs and horses.
Cienna Chefren, a representative for Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, told WPXI that exotic animals such as alligators can be unpredictable when stressed or in crowded environments. "There is no predictability to how that animal is going to act when it’s around strange people, stressful environments, which Walmart is, so there are no precautions there, and that could be quite dangerous," she said.
Silva said he was surprised by Walmart's decision but that he understood it. He has not publicly explained why he needs a service animal or how Jinseioshi provides emotional support. Silva has continued to bring the leashed alligator to other local businesses that allow it.
Photos shared by shoppers showed Jinseioshi riding in a shopping cart and wearing outfits, including dresses, jackets and Halloween costumes, as Silva paraded the reptile around town. Silva told reporters he took Jinseioshi in about four years ago after a neighbor who had received the alligator as a gift could not care for her. He said he researched alligator care and decided it was feasible to keep the animal around his children.
Jinseioshi currently weighs about 32 pounds but could eventually reach lengths of 6 to 8 feet, Silva has said. He told WPXI he has made plans for how to care for the animal if she outgrows him.
The incident adds to ongoing public debates about animals in public spaces, especially exotic species. Retailers and animal rescue organizations emphasize safety and regulatory limits when determining whether an animal can accompany a person in public settings. Walmart's statement made clear it will continue to allow recognized service animals while barring animals it deems a potential threat to shoppers and staff.