RELATED SLIDESHOW: Pictures of the alligator being hauled away.
The SPCA was called out to the 1300 block of South Warnock Street in South Philadephia to remove the reptile.
The five-foot long gator was owned by Mike McClay who says he inherited the animal about three and a half years ago when it was just a foot and a half long.
"I called the zoo, nobody wanted him. I called the pet shops, nobody wanted him. So, I kept him. And all my neighbors know," McClay said.
McClay says the gator's name is "Kirt" and lived on a diet of chicken thighs. But, the exocitc pet was reported to animal control Tuesday morning. McClay was cited and Kirt was taken to the Pennsylvania SPCA.
"It is illegal to have any wildlife in the City of Philadelphia. And, obviously, we want to be looking out for the best interests of the animal and, also, the public's health," said Kim Wolf of the SPCA.
The aligator is now at the Pennsylvania SPCA where it will be examined by a vet before deciding on a new and more suitable habitat .
Meanwhile, some of the neighbors on Warnock Street were not totally surprised that McClay had an unusual pet.
"This was the first time I actually saw it. It wasn't as big as the rumors made it sound, but it was big enough," said neighbor John D'Agostino.
The Pennsylvania SPCA says it receives more alligators than you might think. In fact, it has two others at the shelter right now.
But Kirt is the biggest one they've ever gotten.
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