Emotional Support Gator Denied Entry Into Phillies Game

He just wanted to watch the game and meet the players like everybody else, but sadly, that's not how this story ends.

Wally, the world-famous emotional support alligator, was denied access into Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night for the Phillies vs. Pirates game after being personally invited by someone who knows some players, according to the York Daily Record.

The story begins with Wally being invited to the ballpark to meet some Phillies players by a woman who knows them. Wally was set to meet the players in the clubhouse before the start of the game, but he never made it into the ballpark.

When Wally arrived with his handler, Joie Henney, the players had already left the clubhouse for the dugout and couldn't return to the locker room. The woman who invited the gator thought they would buy tickets and head into the stadium, but Henney said they were told that only service animals were allowed in the ballpark. Wally is not a service animal but an emotional support animal, so he didn't qualify for entry.

"It was just a mix-up," Henney said. He also noted that Wally "took it pretty good. He got to meet many new people and get many hugs and kisses."

Jon McCann, a YouTuber called "The Philly Captain," met Wally outside the ballpark and shared a short clip on Instagram.

In the video, Wally's handlers explain that he's the only emotional support gator in the world and is not a service animal, so he was denied access.

"That's good that he was kicked out. An alligator does not belong anywhere, and they do not have the same rights as legitimate service animals. I'm surprised nobody has shot this alligator yet, and I'm not saying that to be mean, but alligators are predatory animals. I would not be shocked if it tried attacking a real service dog," one of McCann's followers wrote in the comments.

Another person added, "An alligator can not be a service animal, it can ALSO not be taken out in public. ESA's do not have public access rights, and you're breaking the law by trying to take that thing out places."

Fans of Wally have a different attitude than the people in McCann's comment section about the gator's presence in public places. In a recently shared TikTok video, Wally met many people while shopping and got many hugs and love from his new friends.

Wally looked cozy, hugging all his new friends in the store, and viewers commented with supportive thoughts.

"I wanna hold him so bad 😭," one person wrote. Another added, "Wow Wally is precious ♥️. You guys are shattering stereotypes and showing many people what awesome critters they are. ❤️"

Wally is often seen in the Philadelphia area and at various festivals. In another recently shared video, Wally gets more hugs from random people he met in what appears to be a doctor's office.

"Cuddling a gator is now added to my bucket list," one person wrote in the comments. Another said, "❤️love Wally!! We had the honor of meeting him at our local mall when he was shopping with his emotional support human, such a sweet boy!"