Escaped Chicago Iguana - Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on June 28, 1999 at 20:05:07:

THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES (Illinois) 10 June 99 Leapin' lizard goes AWOL from owner (Robert C. Herguth)
Talk about leapin' lizards.
A large iguana pulled from a tree Tuesday by Mount Prospect police was reunited Wednesday with one of her masters, who said Chi Chi escaped two or three days earlier by apparently jumping from their second-floor deck.
"She's very explorative," said Clayton Bowler, the lizard's 28-year-old owner, who lives in the Forest Cove apartment complex and was out of town Wednesday on business when the iguana was retrieved. "This time it looks like she got herself in a little more trouble than usual--she wound up in the slammer."
That was just for safekeeping. Keeping an iguana is not against the law in Mount Prospect. Mount Prospect crime prevention officer Bill Roscop said the police department couldn't find a shelter to take in the reptile Tuesday night, so he took Chi Chi to the Streamwood home of his nephew, who he said is good with animals.
"Since the lizard hadn't committed any crimes that we're aware of, we didn't want him to go through the trauma of staying in jail overnight," he quipped.
Bowler said he had put a leash on Chi Chi and let her hang out on the deck so she could get some sun. When he returned later, the iguana was missing and the leash was hanging over the ledge. Chi Chi was found Tuesday afternoon in a tree outside an adjacent apartment complex, but police initially didn't know who owned her.
"Every day I was in the bushes looking for her," said Bowler's roommate, Sheri Skidmore, 23. It was Skidmore's mother who, after hearing about the reptile capture on a Wednesday morning radio show, called Skidmore, who then contacted police to claim the beast. Bowler had just left on a business trip, so Skidmore took pictures to the police station to prove ownership. The iguana was physically fine but in poor spirits, Skidmore said.
Pattie Touhey, a manager at Forest Cove, said she heard about the great escape, but "we didn't hear from any of the residents. I don't think there was much of a commotion."
Tammy Yovino, 26, who lives next door to Bowler and Skidmore, has taken a real liking to Chi Chi, although she was a little afraid of her at first. "I'm just glad she's back at home," Yovino said. "We were all worried about her."
Chi Chi, about 6 years old, 3 to 4 feet long, and 25 to 30 pounds, also escaped off the balcony about two weeks ago when she wasn't on a leash, said Bowler, who has owned the lizard for only about a month. She was quickly discovered then, and he thought the leash would do the trick. But now he admits he has to change his game plan.
"Maybe we'll just have to take her on walks from now on," he said.

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Re: I wonder what "bail" was set at? LOL Great story! n/p Lola and Harry's Mom 6/29/99 (0)

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: THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES (Illinois) 10 June 99 Leapin' lizard goes AWOL from owner (Robert C. Herguth) : Talk about leapin' lizards. : A large iguana pulled from a tree Tuesday by Mount Prospect police was reunited Wednesday with one of her masters, who said Chi Chi escaped two or three days earlier by apparently jumping from their second-floor deck. : "She's very explorative," said Clayton Bowler, the lizard's 28-year-old owner, who lives in the Forest Cove apartment complex and was out of town Wednesday on business when the iguana was retrieved. "This time it looks like she got herself in a little more trouble than usual--she wound up in the slammer." : That was just for safekeeping. Keeping an iguana is not against the law in Mount Prospect. Mount Prospect crime prevention officer Bill Roscop said the police department couldn't find a shelter to take in the reptile Tuesday night, so he took Chi Chi to the Streamwood home of his nephew, who he said is good with animals. : "Since the lizard hadn't committed any crimes that we're aware of, we didn't want him to go through the trauma of staying in jail overnight," he quipped. : Bowler said he had put a leash on Chi Chi and let her hang out on the deck so she could get some sun. When he returned later, the iguana was missing and the leash was hanging over the ledge. Chi Chi was found Tuesday afternoon in a tree outside an adjacent apartment complex, but police initially didn't know who owned her. : "Every day I was in the bushes looking for her," said Bowler's roommate, Sheri Skidmore, 23. It was Skidmore's mother who, after hearing about the reptile capture on a Wednesday morning radio show, called Skidmore, who then contacted police to claim the beast. Bowler had just left on a business trip, so Skidmore took pictures to the police station to prove ownership. The iguana was physically fine but in poor spirits, Skidmore said. : Pattie Touhey, a manager at Forest Cove, said she heard about the great escape, but "we didn't hear from any of the residents. I don't think there was much of a commotion." : Tammy Yovino, 26, who lives next door to Bowler and Skidmore, has taken a real liking to Chi Chi, although she was a little afraid of her at first. "I'm just glad she's back at home," Yovino said. "We were all worried about her." : Chi Chi, about 6 years old, 3 to 4 feet long, and 25 to 30 pounds, also escaped off the balcony about two weeks ago when she wasn't on a leash, said Bowler, who has owned the lizard for only about a month. She was quickly discovered then, and he thought the leash would do the trick. But now he admits he has to change his game plan. : "Maybe we'll just have to take her on walks from now on," he said.

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