Alligator discovered left in Philadelphia home during eviction process

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Sheriff's deputies discovered an alligator inside a home while serving an eviction in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

The tenant left the animal behind, along with a husky, inside the home on the 2500 block of Cumberland Street.

"They called and said, 'There is a dog and a gator in here and we need you guys to come out,'" recalled Sarah Barnett, the executive director of ACCT Philly.

SEE ALSO | Animal control officers in Texas use trash truck to remove 12-foot alligator | VIDEO

Barnett said the gator was discovered in a tank inside the home. And surprisingly, this type of rescue is becoming more common.

"It's not the first time. So, we now sort of have a system for it, which is kind of weird to think about," Barnett said.

In the last year, Animal Care and Control has rescued eight alligators in Philadelphia, but none as large 'Chompy,' as he is now known. The alligator is about three feet long and isn't very healthy.

"You can tell from the skin he wasn't getting enough water. He wasn't getting enough food. He wasn't getting the care he needed because gators are not meant to be pets," Barnett said.

CAUGHT ON VIDEO | Cop delivers pizza when delivery driver sees 8-foot gator hiding under customer's car

This story has a happy ending, though. An alligator rescue group from Florida is going to take 'Chompy' to a sanctuary.

As for exotic pets, ACCT Philly wants owners to reach out so they can help.

"It means you are a good pet owner if you realize you reached your limitations," said Barnett.