A Pennsylvania man, Joie Henney, who credits an alligator named Wally for helping relieve his depression for nearly a decade, is now searching for the reptile after it went missing during a vacation to the coast of Georgia.

Henney has thousands of social media followers on pages devoted to Wally, his emotional support alligator. He has shared photos and videos online of people interacting with the 5 1/2-foot (1.7 meter) alligator like a dog or hugging it like a teddy bear. Wally gained widespread attention last year when he was denied entry to a Philadelphia Phillies game.

However, Henney is now distraught after Wally vanished during an April vacation in Brunswick, Georgia. He suspects someone stole Wally from the fenced outdoor enclosure where the alligator spent the night on April 21.

According to Henney’s social media posts, pranksters left Wally outside the home of someone who then called authorities, leading to the alligator being trapped and released into the wild.

In a tearful video posted on TikTok, Henney pleaded for help to find Wally, saying, “We need all the help we can get to bring my baby back. Please, we need your help.”