Here’s something new – an emotional support alligator.

You’ve heard of seeing-eye dogs and pets that offer emotional support to the depressed and ill, but an “emotional support alligator?”

Video footage showed a girl walking an alligator, on a leash, in Philadelphia Love Park on Friday. The alligator was happy to cool off in the heat in the park’s fountain, and was even friendly and let people pet it!

The alligator has a name, Wally, and a collar that labels it as an emotional support pet. 

The Philly Voice reported that although the girl walking the alligator wasn’t identified, it is presumed that her Wally is the same Wally that was famously adopted by Joie Henney, a man from York, Pennsylvania, unless the new Wally in Love Park was a Wally-wanna-be. 

Henney is a lover of reptiles and acquired Wally six years ago. He has others at home. He has worked with alligators for 30 years.  He’s been in the news in the past. He said that he went through an emotionally hard time, is struggling with cancer, and Wally helps him through it.

Wally was brought by a friend of Henney’s from Florida. 

“My doctor wanted to give me anti-depression medicine and I refused to take it,” Henney said. Instead, he befriended a gator, and the reptile is federally registered as an allowed emotional support animal.

Alligators are considered dangerous, but it is legal to keep one as a pet in Pennsylvania. 

Henney has several social media accounts that feature Wally as a lovable, gentle companion.

According to Henney, Wally is not aggressive at all.

“He’s just loveable. He sleeps with me, steals my pillows, steals my blankets. He’s just awesome.”