Press Item: Grateful owner claims lost iguana

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Posted by Desiree on June 25, 2001 at 11:48:11:

Grateful owner claims lost iguana

JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer June 23, 2001

WOONSOCKET -- After a walk in the neighborhood and a visit to the Woonsocket Animal Shelter, Iggy the iguana finally made it home yesterday.
The reptile's owner got a call about his pet's appearance in yesterday's editions of The Call and picked it up at the shelter off Cumberland Hill Road yesterday morning.

"The caretaker at Oak Hill Cemetery called and said it was at the animal shelter," said Douglas Flynn, 31, of 218 Rathbun St.

Flynn had called the cemetery near his home on the chance Iggy, escaping out a broken window screen earlier in the week, might be ranging on the historic cemetery grounds.

After learning of the lizard's location, Flynn said he drove down to the pound before it opened yesterday morning in anticipation of getting it back.

"They asked me a few questions to identify," he said. The lizard has a distinctive powder blue marking on the side of its head and a notable scar on its tail as identifying marks, he noted.

While not positive, the owner believes the lizard is a male.

City Animal Control Officers Erin Maloney and Doris Kay had been caring for the lizard at the shelter since finding it in a shrub outside 241 Rathbun St. several days ago.

The pair had been worried about the iguana becoming ill from not having the right environment at the pound and issued an appeal in the paper to locate its owner. The animal had lost its normal green hue and taken on a somewhat sickly brown tint while in custody with the city.

Flynn said Iggy gets pretty much free reign of his apartment, and likes spending its days sitting on the windowsill in the warming sunlight.

"He eats kind of like a vegetarian, although he will eat cat food," he said.

Flynn said he has owned the lizard for about two years and believes it is now six years old. It has doubled its length since he obtained it from a previous owner who thought it was getting to be too big to keep as a pet.

Actually Izzy is a very good pet, Flynn said. "He's very docile. I like him because he's very cool. It's like having something primitive."

While Iggy will continue to have roaming rights in the apartment, Flynn said he had already fixed the broken screen yesterday to prevent another escape.

"I shut all his windows and he's happy to be home. He has his green color back," the owner said.

�The Call 2001

Grateful owner claims lost iguana

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: Grateful owner claims lost iguana : : JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer June 23, 2001 : : WOONSOCKET -- After a walk in the neighborhood and a visit to the Woonsocket Animal Shelter, Iggy the iguana finally made it home yesterday. : The reptile's owner got a call about his pet's appearance in yesterday's editions of The Call and picked it up at the shelter off Cumberland Hill Road yesterday morning. : "The caretaker at Oak Hill Cemetery called and said it was at the animal shelter," said Douglas Flynn, 31, of 218 Rathbun St. : Flynn had called the cemetery near his home on the chance Iggy, escaping out a broken window screen earlier in the week, might be ranging on the historic cemetery grounds. : After learning of the lizard's location, Flynn said he drove down to the pound before it opened yesterday morning in anticipation of getting it back. : "They asked me a few questions to identify," he said. The lizard has a distinctive powder blue marking on the side of its head and a notable scar on its tail as identifying marks, he noted. : While not positive, the owner believes the lizard is a male. : City Animal Control Officers Erin Maloney and Doris Kay had been caring for the lizard at the shelter since finding it in a shrub outside 241 Rathbun St. several days ago. : The pair had been worried about the iguana becoming ill from not having the right environment at the pound and issued an appeal in the paper to locate its owner. The animal had lost its normal green hue and taken on a somewhat sickly brown tint while in custody with the city. : Flynn said Iggy gets pretty much free reign of his apartment, and likes spending its days sitting on the windowsill in the warming sunlight. : "He eats kind of like a vegetarian, although he will eat cat food," he said. : Flynn said he has owned the lizard for about two years and believes it is now six years old. It has doubled its length since he obtained it from a previous owner who thought it was getting to be too big to keep as a pet. : Actually Izzy is a very good pet, Flynn said. "He's very docile. I like him because he's very cool. It's like having something primitive." : While Iggy will continue to have roaming rights in the apartment, Flynn said he had already fixed the broken screen yesterday to prevent another escape. : "I shut all his windows and he's happy to be home. He has his green color back," the owner said. : : �The Call 2001

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