For the last ten years, James Moye had been living at his Medina home with a pet alligator named Harley. He bought her when she was just six inches long.
Moye said that he had never received any complaints and didn't know it was against the law, reported ONN's Cristin Severance.
"She isn't vicious or anything, just a big, lazy lizard," Moye said.
SPCA officers visited his home last year and said that the more-than-four-foot alligator was well taken care of, but on Wednesday, two Medina police officers came to his home.
They told Moye that he couldn't have the gator at his home.
Medina Mayor Dennis Haswell said that the city has had a dangerous animals ordinance since 1984. The ordinance bans 29 different wild animals, including alligators.
Haswell and other city officials learned of the alligator living in the city just this week and Moye was cited.
The father of three said that he understands why the law is in place, especially with incidents like last year in Zanesville where 48 exotic animals were freed by their owner.
"That was horrible, that chimpanzee incident. That's why they make these laws to make sure people don't get hurt," Moye said.
He just never knew the ordinance existed.
"They were cool about it, don't get me wrong..but they could have cut me a little slack. Cause I don't want a fourth degree misdemeanor on my record," he added.
Moye is due in court next week to answer the charges.
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