WallyGator, a licensed emotional support alligator from Pennsylvania, is running to become "America's Favorite Pet." The TikTok star with a following of over 68,100 people as of Wednesday, August 24, is reportedly joining the new pet popularity contest called "America's Favorite Pet Animal Kingdom." The said reptile is known for giving hugs and kisses for distressed human for several years already.
America's Favorite Pet Kingdom
The contest will include all kinds of animals of all shapes, sizes, and species, according to the New York Post, which reported that WallyGator's TikTok profile indicates he is a "licensed emotional support animal" and his owners operate a reptile rescue.
Latest developments regarding the contest show that WallyGator is currently in the lead. Yet, the exact number of votes is still unknown, according to Fox News.
Votes can be submitted through the website AmericasFavPet.com where one or two votes can be cast daily for free depending on the verification method selected.
As an alternative option, people can cast their votes equivalent from 10 to 250 points through a monetary donation for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) based in Lynnwood, Washington.
Also Read: Delta Airlines Bans Emotional Support Animals While Flying!
Emotional Support Animal
For years, mental health professionals prescribe emotional support animals or ESAs under the law. Started out as part of one's lifestyle in a person's mundane life, the practice of owning a pet and their impact to the social and emotional well-being of their owners has already been widely recognized.
From a personal pet, some dogs and pets, even the wild ones are now capable of elevating their status into a professional go-to animals in times of emotional distress and need. Yet, mental health authorities still require some criteria for such pets to be qualified to become an emotional support animal, with the main rule that they must not exhibit any violent behavior or the purpose of it would be defeated.
In order to become a support animal, they must be a pet and must be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
In the case of the domestic Canis lupus familiaris, they must not be service dogs. The AKC says while dog owners can receive loyal companionship from their pets, the presence of a dog for people with mental or emotional conditions is critical for their ability to function on a daily basis.
For instance, having a pet can ease a person's anxiety or give them an outlook in life. For emotional support dogs, they can be of any age and any breed, group says.
In 2019, there were almost 200,000 ESAs in the US. Over 65,000 of these animals were registered between 1995 and 2015, according to the website Pawsome Advice.
While dogs are the popular ESAs, there is a potentially rising trend that wild animals like WallyGator can be an emotional support animal too. However, due to the natural tendency of these animals to cause harm to people, the TikTok star alligator could be considered as one of a kind.
Related Article: The Growing Trend of Emotional Support Animals
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