Alligator dumped in east Detroit

Reptile found dumped on city's east side, rescuers keep it warm, feed it until Michigan Humane Society steps in

DETROIT – A 5-foot-long alligator has been found dumped on Detroit's east side.

While neighbors in the area say they are used to people dumping garbage along their street, they saw someone throw something out of a truck Thursday night that they never expected to find.

"A black truck pulled up, they got out and I thought they was dumping a body," said Shontez Gibson, who helped rescue the exotic animal. "So, I told my uncle. My uncle said, 'Come on, let's go see.' My uncle chased the truck up the street and they stopped, so my uncle ran back. And when we got back in the field I said, 'No, it's an alligator.'"

Gibson placed the alligator in its own room with a space heater to help warm it up. He said he fed it fish.

"So, he said, 'Pick it up,' I said, 'No, you pick it up!" Gibson said. "He said, 'Alright, come on, let's take it in the house.' I pick it up, take it in the house. He was scared and ran."

Gibson called police on Friday and the Michigan Humane Society went to take the toothy animal off their hands.

"I had to do something. Nobody else was going to do it," said Gibson.

The alligator has a new home at the Michigan Humane Society in Rochester Hills which has facilities to handle exotic animals.