A Pennsylvania man said his emotional support alligator has been banned from a Walmart after photographs of the reptile inside the store drew attention from shoppers.
Wesley Silva, 60, of West Brownsville, told local media the 5-foot, 32-pound alligator named Jinseioshi had accompanied him on public outings for years without incident, including visits to restaurants where Silva said the animal received “VIP treatment.” Walmart said it would not allow alligators on its premises.
“We’ve gone to restaurants,” Silva told WPXI. “We’ve been to Denny’s, where she’s a star there. She gets VIP treatment.” Silva said he had owned Jinseioshi for four years after adopting the animal when a neighbor who had received the alligator as a gift could no longer care for it. He said he had been bringing the reptile into public places for roughly three and a half years.
Walmart issued a written statement to the outlet saying, “The safety of our customers and associates is our highest priority. We welcome service animals in our stores, but it is unacceptable to expose members of the public to potential danger. Accordingly, alligators are not permitted on our premises.” The company’s website notes it accepts service animals such as dogs and miniature horses in line with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act, which identifies those animals as trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.
Photographs taken by customers earlier this month showed Jinseioshi inside the West Brownsville store, including one image of the reptile wearing a gray dress while being pushed in a shopping cart and another image showing the animal with a shirt and harness. Silva said he was upset by the Walmart decision, saying he had not encountered much pushback from the public over the years.
State law does not bar possession of alligators in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said. “So long as these animals are not released into the wild, there are no state regulations regarding their ownership,” the commission said, and no state permit is required to possess such animals.
Wildlife experts note that alligators can grow far larger than the animal Silva described. The National Wildlife Federation states that American alligators can exceed 12 feet in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. Silva said he researched the animal’s care before adopting Jinseioshi and believes he was acting in the interest of safety.
In recent years, a handful of high-profile incidents involving reptiles in public venues have drawn attention. In 2023, a Philadelphia Phillies fan was denied entry to Citizens Bank Park after attempting to bring an emotional support alligator into the stadium.
Silva said he plans to continue taking Jinseioshi on outings despite Walmart’s ban. “I’ll just go with the flow,” he said. He added that he did not want to put anyone in jeopardy and had taken responsibility for the animal’s care since bringing it home.
Walmart’s prohibition on alligators reflects a broader retail policy that limits accepted service animals to those specified by federal guidance and seeks to avoid exposing customers and employees to potential danger in stores. The local retailer did not indicate whether the ban applies only to the West Brownsville location or will be enforced at other stores where Silva might shop.
The dispute highlights tensions that can arise when unusual companion animals are taken into public spaces and the balance businesses and regulators try to strike between accommodating individuals with disabilities and ensuring public safety.