MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — It's not always easy to lend a helping hand to cats and dogs in need around Tampa Bay, so imagine just how hard it is to help a 500-pound alligator, or an exotic creature from across the world?

Today's Everyday Hero wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

At John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach, you’ll find the Alligator Attraction and Wildlife Learning Center.

Owner Sonny Flynn is clear in the center’s mission:

“To rescue and take in pet surrenders and to educate the public on our animals,” Flynn said. “Our animal family. To raise awareness of what exotic pets are.”

The attraction is part of the john’s pass rescue non-profit.

“Ninety-five percent of my animals are pet surrenders or rescues,” he said. “So we work with SPCA, Florida Wildlife Conservation, two other rescues in Florida, a rescue out of Michigan and we’ll take in the pets that we can.”

From bearded dragons to lion fish to a sloth from the “wolverine” state.

And what about those gators?

“We raise them until they’re five feet,” he said. “And once they leave here they go to a no-kill sanctuary where they’re protected and cared for.”

In addition to closely supervised visits during the pandemic, Flynn does virtual education classes and virtual field trips.

And be warned. There is a diabolical method to Flynn’s madness about teaching kids of all ages about these animals.

“It’s so much fun they don’t even know they’re learning.”