🐊 WE’VE BEEN KEEPING A BIG SECRET! 🐊❤️

There’s something we haven’t shared with many of you… In fact, only the rescue he originally came from knew about him!

For the past couple of months, we might have been secretly housing a 4-foot alligator! 🤫🐊

But before we tell you where he is now, let’s tell you a little about his journey. ❤️

This big guy’s story started when he was found wandering down the street in Jeffersonville, Indiana! Yes, you read that right… an ALLIGATOR just casually wandering around Jeffersonville! 😳🐊

After being rescued, he received the medical attention and care he needed by The Kentuckiana Scaletuary. Before eventually making his way to us at Lakota Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation, where we agreed to foster him until a more permanent placement could be found.

And let me tell you… we never expected to develop the bond with this big guy that we did! 🥹❤️

Over the past couple of months, he became part of our everyday routine. Our sub-permittees spent countless hours caring for him, feeding him, cleaning his enclosure, and getting to know his personality.

We even found ourselves BRUSHING AN ALLIGATOR’S TEETH! 😂🪥🐊

Yes, you read that correctly! Who would have thought that rescuing wildlife would eventually lead to brushing an alligator’s teeth?!

He definitely stole some hearts along the way, and saying goodbye wasn’t easy.

But this past weekend, something amazing happened! ❤️

Some of our incredible sub-permittees made the long trip out of state to transport this big boy to a sanctuary that specializes in alligators and other crocodilians!

As much as we absolutely loved having him, we knew that the best long-term care for an alligator his size was not with us.

Part of being a good rescue is knowing when another facility can provide an animal with a better future. Our job isn’t to keep them forever. It’s to do what’s best for THEM. ❤️

While they were there, the sanctuary took the time to teach our subs some incredibly valuable information about alligator care, diet, and husbandry!

They even complimented our team on the amazing job they had done caring for our big guy! 🥹❤️

That meant so much to us because we put our hearts into caring for every animal that comes through our doors, whether they’re with us for a few days, a few months, or the rest of their lives.

They also discussed the possibility of us caring for a smaller alligator until it eventually outgrows what we can comfortably provide, at which point we could make the trip again to get it into their specialized care.

Now, here is where WE COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP! ❤️

The sanctuary requires a donation of $10 per inch to help provide for the alligators they take in.

Our big boy measured 50 inches long!

🐊 Sanctuary donation: $500

🚗 Gas for the trip there and back: Not cheap!

❤️ Total expenses: Over $500!

Here is the part that really touches my heart…

OUR SUB-PERMITTEES PAID FOR THIS ENTIRE TRIP OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS! 🥹❤️

They knew Lakota Haven needed to keep our funds available for veterinary bills, food, and the everyday expenses of caring for all the animals currently in our rehabilitation program.

Between our foxes, bobcats, otter, and all the other mouths we feed, our meat bill alone is no joke!

But these amazing people didn’t hesitate.

They stepped up, made the drive, covered the expenses, and made sure this alligator got the future he deserved.

Now we want to give back to THEM! ❤️

Our goal is to reimburse our subs for the $500 sanctuary donation, or at least as much of it as we possibly can, along with helping cover some of their travel expenses.

They never asked us to do this. But they deserve it. ❤️

If you would like to donate toward this expense, even $5 or $10 would make a difference!

And if you can’t donate, sharing this post would mean just as much!

We are so incredibly blessed to have people on our team who put the animals first, even when it means sacrificing their own time and money.

To our subs who made this happen, THANK YOU. You are exactly the kind of people these animals need in their corner. ❤️

And to everyone who supports Lakota Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation, thank you for helping us give these animals the lives they deserve.

From wandering the streets of Jeffersonville, to receiving medical care, to being fostered and loved by our team, to finally arriving at a sanctuary where he can spend the rest of his life…

What an incredible journey for one very special alligator. 🐊❤️

Sometimes loving an animal means knowing when to let someone else give them the very best life possible.

Our haven was just one chapter in his story. His forever sanctuary is the next. 🐊🏡❤️

Our Haven to His Forever Sanctuary 🐊❤

Helping 4-foot gator reach his happily ever after! 🐊❤

Team Members