Alligator-like Mr. Teeth dies after being discovered guarding pot

By Lori Preuitt , NBCBayArea.com

Updated at 4:45 p.m. ET: There is a sad update to a pot bust that included a 5-foot alligator-like creature that was allegedly used by his owner to guard drugs in Castro Valley.

Veterinarians at the Oakland Zoo reported Thursday that Mr. Teeth died overnight.

Dr. Karen Emanuelson said the animal, which looks like an alligator, was actually a dwarf caiman. And when he came to the zoo Tuesday after an unusual drug bust, he was critically ill and non-responsive.

Veterinary staff said they examined Mr. Teeth, took blood samples and determined his prognosis was poor. Emanuelson confirmed Thursday that the animal died sometime in the night, but no one at the zoo would explain or discuss any more. It was not clear why the caiman, thought to be about 16 years old, died, or if guarding drugs at a man's house had any connection to his death.

The odd story of the caiman came to light when Alameda County sheriff's deputies walked into a house earlier this week on the 19000 block of Mount Jasper Drive in Castro Valley to do a routine probation check.

The found the suspect, 32-year-old Assif Mayar, and the drugs and the animal.

Mayar said he acquired the caiman in 1996 to commemorate the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, deputies said.

Video at link: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/10/16450197-alligator-like-mr-teeth-dies-after-being-discovered-guarding-pot?lite=obinsite