By Anjeanette Damon
Reno Gazette-Journal
Tuesday June 6th, 2000

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Sparks firefighters discovered a reptile collection, including a 5-foot-long alligator named Elvira, while seeking the source of a water leak in a Varnum Circle apartment.

What they discovered “scared the pants off the firefighter,” Battalion Chief Lee Leighton said. “He opened the (bathroom) door and the alligator flipped his tail and slammed the door shut.”

Firefighters shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday traced water leaking into two first-floor apartments to the overflowing bathroom of Cynthia Rully. They found the 8-year-old gator who was awaiting the finish of remodeling of her enclosure at the Sierra Safari Zoo, where Rully volunteers.

“(Elvira) hasn’t ever hurt anybody,” said zoo board member Jimmy Martin. “She’s very sweet. Cindy even showers with the thing in her bathtub. They have a very nice relationship.”

Firefighters also found in Rully’s apartment four Colombian red tail boas, a Burmese python, a blood python, a green-wing macaw, a garter snake, two tarantulas, a Russian tortoise, a salamander, an iguana, a ball python, 11 rats, two cats and a finch — all in cages. The rats may have been part of the menu for Elvira and the large snakes.

Rully does not have a city permit to own or keep exotic animals was ticketed by Sparks police. Rully declined to comment.

Rully is a volunteer at the zoo, who specializes in reptiles, Martin said. Although not a veterinarian, Rully was treating Elvira for a sore in her mouth, while zoo crews plugged leaks in her pond and added landscaping to her enclosure.

“We didn’t expect to have any problems,” Martin said. “It was just a temporary thing.”
Rully declined to comment.

John Potash, founder of the Wildlife Rescue Association, was called to help police with the alligator. He said all the animals in the apartment appeared well cared for but took Elvira back to the zoo.

“They were all doing excellent,” he said. “I guess all the snakes have come from a rescue-type situation and she nursed them back to health.”

Although zoo officials say the alligator is friendly, Leighton said animals behave oddly in stressful situations, such as fires.

“What if it had been a fire and we were in there searching for people on our hands and knees and found this alligator,” Leighton said. “That is always a concern because we never know what we will run into.”