Authorities say they made an unexpected discovery when they tried to serve a restraining order at a central New Jersey home.

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Mercer County Sheriff's officers tell The Times of Trenton that the man they were looking for wasn't home when they arrived at the Trenton residence on Thursday. But the officers instead found six small alligators, two turtles, a hamster and four sick and injured dogs inside the home, which they described as dirty and cluttered.

The man's mother was at the home when the officers arrived. She told the newspaper her son owns the animals but doesn't always care for them properly.

One of the alligators was found dead. But the other reptiles and animals were being cared for at a shelter.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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