Owner comes forward to claim lost alligator 'Fluffy' found in Berks County

EXETER TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A 2.5-foot alligator named Fluffy has been reunited with his owner after turning up in a Berks County creek this week.

A shocked landscaper spotted the alligator on Wednesday in a creek behind the 200 block of North Prospect Street in Exeter Township.

Shawn Sancinella, who owns Sanci's Landscaping, says he and his crew were working at a house on Butter Lane when one of his guys looked into Antietam Creek and saw the reptile.

Then, they made a snap decision.

"I couldn't believe it, it was wild," said Sancinella. "I'm like, 'We're in Pennsylvania, no alligators are going to be in here.'"

He and his crew called 911 and then scaled down the creek to track the gator down.

Police arrived and called the Animal Rescue League of Berks County to haul away the reptile.

"We train for a lot as police officers," said Officer Steve Beradi, "one thing we do not train for is capturing loose alligators."

Once the discovery of the alligator went public, Beradi said the reptile's owner came forward.

"The pet owner gave us a call and said he was looking for days and was worried sick about his alligator, Fluffy," he recalled.

Fluffy's owner told the rescue league that the gator got free from an outdoor enclosure during the flash flooding in Berks County last month.

When Fluffy was found, officials said he was in pretty bad shape.

"Even though it was found in a creek, his tongue was dried up and curled, so there were a lot of issues there," said Rudy Arceo, the founder of the Venom Institute.

After Fluffy was found, Arceo hurried to Berks County to take a look at him.

Arceo said Fluffy was emaciated, as he should have been roughly 10 feet long and was only 2.5 feet.

The gator also has a distorted snout.

"If you want to get a crocodilian, make sure you have the space, make sure you have the adequate lighting and heating and dietary needs," Arceo said.

While Arceo is glad Fluffy is safe, Sancinella is still reeling from the chance encounter.

"I mean this is Berks County," he said. "A little bit of excitement like that goes a long way."

Fluffy's owner did get his pet back but with conditions.

The Animal Rescue League said it will be doing regular check-ins to make sure the gator gets healthier and his living conditions are sustainable.