More than 100,000 people have signed a Change.Org petition to return an 11-foot alligator to a Hamburg man.

According to Erie County officials, the owner was illegally keeping "Albert" the alligator at his home. 

He had built an addition to his home and an inground pool for the 34-year-old gator, without a permit. He also allegedly allowed people to get in the water with the unsecured gator.

The owner had a DEC license for the alligator, but it expired in 2021.

Authorities say Albert has several health issues and has been turned over to a licensed caretaker.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation released this statement:

"Possession of animals designated as dangerous, including alligators, is prohibited in New York State except under license from the Department of Environmental Conservation. To be clear, even if the owner was appropriately licensed, public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for license revocation and relocation of the animal."