Alligator roundup in Kennett, Mo. - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Alligator roundup in Kennett, Mo.

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  • Heartland News

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:06 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:06:52 GMT
    You might think it’s a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.“Human trafficking is happening in our own backyards,” said Sandra Self with the coalition.“It’s hard for us because we’re kind of, we think we’re insulated, here in the Midwest, you know in the middle of the country thinking that would never happen around here, but unfortunately it does,” said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.“We g...
    You might think it’s a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.“Human trafficking is happening in our own backyards,” said Sandra Self with the coalition.“It’s hard for us because we’re kind of, we think we’re insulated, here in the Midwest, you know in the middle of the country thinking that would never happen around here, but unfortunately it does,” said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.“We g...

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:58 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:58:57 GMT
    A Jackson County family was stunned after learning their dog was shot and killed by police.Authorities aren’t talking, but the family is.“I was just thinking how could somebody do that to me and just leave him in my yard for me to come home and find,” Tilley said.Brittney Tilley and her dad never expected they would bury their two-year-old dog Boots so soon.The beagle and lab mix was found shot in the head on Sunday. Days later, they still don’t know what drove someone to kill the dog.“A deci...
    A Jackson County family was stunned after learning their dog was shot and killed by police.Authorities aren’t talking, but the family is.“I was just thinking how could somebody do that to me and just leave him in my yard for me to come home and find,” Tilley said.Brittney Tilley and her dad never expected they would bury their two-year-old dog Boots so soon.The beagle and lab mix was found shot in the head on Sunday. Days later, they still don’t know what drove someone to kill the dog.“A deci...

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:54 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:54:34 GMT
    A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., that will impact truck traffic this summer.According to KYTC, trucks will be have to be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24.KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd said the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend in the bridge to be aware of the coming project.“This project involves repairs on bridge deck s...
    A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., that will impact truck traffic this summer.According to KYTC, trucks will be have to be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24.KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd said the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend in the bridge to be aware of the coming project.“This project involves repairs on bridge deck s...
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KENNETT, MO (KFVS) -

Kennett police are trying to stop an alligator outbreak before it happens.  That's right, alligators.

Almost two years ago, a man showed up in Kennett selling reptiles. The man sold about 50 alligators before law enforcement got him out of town.

Now, those gators are getting older, and Tina Petix, the Kennett Humane Officer is trying to collect them before people start turning the animals loose.

Petix says the reptiles are illegal in the city, but if you have one and you turn it over - you will not be charged with a crime.

Officers just want the animals out of town before something tragic happens to someone.

"They're not pets," said Petix. "No matter how people think I've had them, you know they're cute this is my pet, they're not your pet, they're not a pet."

Petix they don't know exactly how many alligators are in the city, but guess it can be up to 50 since, that's how many the alligator salesman is suspected to have sold.

"We got enough problems as it is, and alligators are tough old beasts and they're going to live along time, I really don't think we need to encourage the situation," said Kennett resident John Braswell.

He says he doesn't want the reptiles as neighbors.

"Who wants to see alligators grow in our ditch our here, and I think that's a very feasible situation," said Braswell.

"A 3 foot alligator is enough to snap your arm off," said Petix.

Petix says even though people have been keeping the animals as pets, they can be very dangerous to kids, adults, and other animals.

"All we want to do is get them up, get them out of the streets, off the streets, get them back to their natural habitat," said Petix.

"Pets are wild animals, even though they're pets," said Braswell.

Braswell says he's glad he doesn't know anyone who owns an alligator.

"The neighbors I have, are going to have more sense than that," sad Braswell.

But if someone in the neighborhood saw one,

"Then I think we would have the whole neighborhood bringing out their whatever they would use to tame that alligator," said Braswell.

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