Chopper The Alligator Seized From Rancho Cucamonga Owner After 30 Years

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com) — A former animal-control officer was fighting Friday to regain ownership of his pet alligator after it was seized by state officials earlier this week.

According to authorities, California wildlife officials seized the reptile named Chopper on Thursday after they received a complaint from a Rancho Cucamonga resident.

KCAL9's Tom Wait spoke with Chris Cassaro on Friday about the loss of his pet.

"When you've raised a creature from 12, 15-inches to nearly 6 feet, and she's close to 30 years of age," said Cassaro, "it takes your heart, your soul, a lot of money."

Cassaro explained that Chopper was like a daughter to him, as he raised her for almost 30 years in a tank along the side of his Rancho Cucamonga home since the early '80s.

"This is like a kid to me," Cassaro said. "I don't have children; I donated my life to animals."

Cassaro said Chopper was transported by state officials to a tank in the high desert, where she is living with other alligators.

"She's never seen an alligator in her life until yesterday," Cassaro said. "It tears your heart open."

According to wildlife officials, Cassaro never filed for the correct permit to own Chopper.

Authorities said the necessary permit would have the same requirements as a zoo, which is not easy to obtain.

Despite the difficult fight, however, Cassaro expressed that he's not giving up on bringing Chopper back home.

Other neighbors, such as Amber Parks, described Chopper as a highlight to the community, where kids and parents loved her.

"With 15 years of living here, Chopper has been a major, major fixture in our lives," said Parks. "Both my daughters have grown up around her. Both my daughters have enjoyed coming to see her since they were tiny toddlers."