Canadian Reptile (mostly Iguana) Rescue - Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on August 15, 1999 at 13:32:26:

HAMILTON SPECTATOR (Ontario) 14 August 99 Leapin' Lizards (Wylie Rogers)
Lizard lovers are a leathery lot. Just ask Candace Rogers, co-owner of Reptile Rescue, a newly-founded lizard rehabilitation and adoption centre. Rogers, 26, of Burlington, has scrapes and cuts all over her arms and legs. She barely bats an eye when Sunkist, a seven-pound green iguana digs in her claws and accelerates away. Husband and partner Jeff Rogers, 28, looks on with amusement. His arms are taut and unscathed, bringing a touch of envy to Candace's eyes.
The two are proud owners of four lizards. They rescued the lizards from the SPCA after they were abandoned by previous owners. The green, scaly creatures are now quite friendly. This was not always the case.
Jeff says one lizard the couple rescued was burned by cigarettes and holding on for dear life. The SPCA, which retrieved the damaged lizard, heard about the couple's refuge and called for their expertise. Chaos the iguana now sits proudly, and comfortably, in the couple's basement.
Another abandoned lizard had its tail severed. The vicious cut eliminated the lizard's only defence mechanism, a whipping motion guaranteed to floor an attacker.
Jeff and Candace operate Reptile Rescue from a modest home in the city's newly-developed south end. They have limited resources, but do what they can to aid in the animals' rehabilitation. They do not accept animals at their door. Jeff says the funniest rescue came at the expense of a local woman's naivete. She saw an iguana walking up her driveway, called the SPCA, and said, "There's a dinosaur in my driveway."
Jeff and Candace's next-door neighbour asked about the safety of her cat. She feared it might be eaten by a wandering lizard. The couple says all but the bearded dragon are vegetarians.
Once the lizards are properly fed and heated, they usually perk up. Some are beyond the Rogers' philanthropy and die. The couple says pet stores are selling iguanas for as little as $19. The little creatures are cute when they're inches long. The pet store seldomly tells a new owner that they can grow to be six or seven feet long. Rarer still is a proper guide to care for the animals.
Reptile Rescue puts the animals back up for sale with information guides on how to handle and properly nourish a fickle species.
"We want to prevent any further abuse of these animals," Candace says. "It breaks my heart to see."
Reptile Rescue started out of passion and necessity. Candace travelled throughout the far east and into Africa with her father, an engineer, when she was a child. She says she played with many different types of snake and lizard, "much to my parents dismay."
After attending McMaster University and Mohawk College, Candace still harboured a love for creepy creatures. Jeff finished Sheridan College and started work for a delivery service.
Both Candace and Jeff had bad experiences with lizards of their own. Misinformation caused the death of Candace's first bearded dragon. Jeff took responsibility for someone's mistreated iguana and had it die from malnutrition. So, the two compiled all they knew and hit the books. They now boast a web site rich with pictures and information about all sorts of lizards. And they give tours of schools to educate kids, and teachers, about mishandling the animals.
The couple has invested roughly $6,000 in cages, food, lights and heaters. They breed crickets in a jungle-like room off from the bedroom. The lizards are brought back to life in Burlington. Reptile Rescue wants others to adopt them once they're healthy. They'll build the cages, at a cost, and provide the expertise.
For information, contact Reptile Rescue at www.reptilerescue.on.ca.

Leapin' Lizards

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Dinosaur LOL Wish I took that call LOL Cindy 8/16/99 (0)

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: HAMILTON SPECTATOR (Ontario) 14 August 99 Leapin' Lizards (Wylie Rogers) : Lizard lovers are a leathery lot. Just ask Candace Rogers, co-owner of Reptile Rescue, a newly-founded lizard rehabilitation and adoption centre. Rogers, 26, of Burlington, has scrapes and cuts all over her arms and legs. She barely bats an eye when Sunkist, a seven-pound green iguana digs in her claws and accelerates away. Husband and partner Jeff Rogers, 28, looks on with amusement. His arms are taut and unscathed, bringing a touch of envy to Candace's eyes. : The two are proud owners of four lizards. They rescued the lizards from the SPCA after they were abandoned by previous owners. The green, scaly creatures are now quite friendly. This was not always the case. : Jeff says one lizard the couple rescued was burned by cigarettes and holding on for dear life. The SPCA, which retrieved the damaged lizard, heard about the couple's refuge and called for their expertise. Chaos the iguana now sits proudly, and comfortably, in the couple's basement. : Another abandoned lizard had its tail severed. The vicious cut eliminated the lizard's only defence mechanism, a whipping motion guaranteed to floor an attacker. : Jeff and Candace operate Reptile Rescue from a modest home in the city's newly-developed south end. They have limited resources, but do what they can to aid in the animals' rehabilitation. They do not accept animals at their door. Jeff says the funniest rescue came at the expense of a local woman's naivete. She saw an iguana walking up her driveway, called the SPCA, and said, "There's a dinosaur in my driveway." : Jeff and Candace's next-door neighbour asked about the safety of her cat. She feared it might be eaten by a wandering lizard. The couple says all but the bearded dragon are vegetarians. : Once the lizards are properly fed and heated, they usually perk up. Some are beyond the Rogers' philanthropy and die. The couple says pet stores are selling iguanas for as little as $19. The little creatures are cute when they're inches long. The pet store seldomly tells a new owner that they can grow to be six or seven feet long. Rarer still is a proper guide to care for the animals. : Reptile Rescue puts the animals back up for sale with information guides on how to handle and properly nourish a fickle species. : "We want to prevent any further abuse of these animals," Candace says. "It breaks my heart to see." : Reptile Rescue started out of passion and necessity. Candace travelled throughout the far east and into Africa with her father, an engineer, when she was a child. She says she played with many different types of snake and lizard, "much to my parents dismay." : After attending McMaster University and Mohawk College, Candace still harboured a love for creepy creatures. Jeff finished Sheridan College and started work for a delivery service. : Both Candace and Jeff had bad experiences with lizards of their own. Misinformation caused the death of Candace's first bearded dragon. Jeff took responsibility for someone's mistreated iguana and had it die from malnutrition. So, the two compiled all they knew and hit the books. They now boast a web site rich with pictures and information about all sorts of lizards. And they give tours of schools to educate kids, and teachers, about mishandling the animals. : The couple has invested roughly $6,000 in cages, food, lights and heaters. They breed crickets in a jungle-like room off from the bedroom. The lizards are brought back to life in Burlington. Reptile Rescue wants others to adopt them once they're healthy. They'll build the cages, at a cost, and provide the expertise. : For information, contact Reptile Rescue at www.reptilerescue.on.ca.

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