Gators not meant to be house pets

By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

It is illegal to have an alligator living in the house. That is what a Linden man found out the hard way in November 2013.
On June 1, a warrant was issued on 36-year-old Jacob Minor of Linden for an unpaid fine for possession of an alligator without a permit. He was booked at the Cass County Jail and released after the $299.60 fine was paid on the same day.
After responding to a domestic disturbance call at Minor’s home in November, officers discovered there was a 4-foot alligator living in the residence.
Minor, along with his pet alligator, was taken to the Linden Police Department where Game Warden Dan Hill took custody of the gator.
Hill said he was told the alligator was purchased out of state and that Minor showed a receipt for an out-of-state purchase of just over $200, but the receipt did not specify it was for an alligator.