Fan Attempts to Bring Alligator to Baseball Game at Citizens Bank Park

A fan attempted to enter the stadium with his emotional support animal, but was turned away. He didn’t have a dog or cat on a leash: he wanted to watch a baseball game with his alligator. It happens at Citizens Bank Park, a stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Phillies fan, Joie Henney, tried to bring Wally, her alligator, to the Pirates game. Security, however, refused them entry: this animal does not fall within the permitted categories.

Joie Henney is a reptile rescuer with 30 years of experience: she received Wally, a pet alligator, from Florida in 2015. She has managed various social media accounts documenting the animal’s life. She described Wally as a companion who helped her battle depression and cancer. Despite not being allowed into the game, Wally caught the attention of Phillies fans outside the stadium and sparked an enthusiastic reaction on social media, with many people calling for the Phillies to let him in.

The Phillies’ game-day animal policy allows only guide dogs, service animals and service animals in training. All others are prohibited.

Henney explained that Wally helped him overcome depression and deal with radiation treatments for cancer. He registered him as an emotional support animal in December 2018 and compared him to a dog, saying he just wants love and cuddles. Despite the controversy, Henney has continued to take Wally around schools and senior centers for educational purposes, hoping that his story can spread kindness and bring smiles to people in an often difficult world.

Subjects
2023-10-01 10:18:29
#baseball #fan #brings #alligator #Wally #stadium #rejected #helps #depression