GARY | The 3-foot-long alligator was left to die.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department called Guardian Pest Control service manager Nathan Comanse to rescue the abandoned reptile Saturday morning from a home on 41st Avenue.

"He was really, I hate to say it, left for dead," Comanse said, absently rubbing the underbelly of the gator with his thumb as he held it still.

Comanse said he picked his way through the squalor of the house to the alligator, which was left in an aquarium case too small for its frame. The alligator languished in about an inch of stagnant water the color of black coffee and was badly dehydrated.

Comanse said Guardian Pest Control gets four to five calls a year about exotic pets that have been left behind. He could not say whether the Gary alligator was a legal or illegal species to keep as a pet.

"People need to make sure they purchase something that they can take care of and handle," he said. "Nothing stays small and cute forever."

The gator was aggressive when rescued and had to have its mouth temporarily duct-taped closed to protect its handlers.

Comanse said the alligator is in good condition and will be taken to a rehabilitation facility in Valparaiso.