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Posted by Desiree on July 03, 2001 at 10:15:34:

Expensive, unaffectionate iguana's a pet only a mother could love

By Roy Wenzl

Pets are useful in what they reveal about us.

I'm not sure what Sharon Lupton's iguana reveals about mothers.

But she's got a theory.

Several weeks ago, Sharon's pet iguana died of liver cancer.

Before she died, Dukey had cost Sharon and her husband, Bob, about $1,000 in various expenses in the past five years. Food. Equipment. More on this in a moment.

Sharon mourned Dukey. Sharon's husband did not mourn as much, she said. Or, at least, "he made it clear that he didn't want another iguana."

On June 13, only days after Dukey's death, Sharon read a story in The Wichita Eagle about a loose iguana captured by residents in a north Wichita neighborhood.

Most people would have seen in that story only another cautionary tale about lizards running loose.

Sharon saw a chance for love.

She immediately notified authorities that if an owner didn't claim it, she would give the creature a home. Iguanas are illegal inside Wichita; Sharon lives outside of town.

Three days passed. No owner stepped forward. Sharon took possession June 16 of an adolescent female iguana, nearly 3 feet long.

It came with a tail -- and many requirements.

To keep this creature alive, Sharon Lupton must make certain arrangements.

"Iguanas are not like dogs," Sharon said. "You can keep a dog alive with food and water twice a day, and keep it out of the sun.

"But iguanas are work."

First, she plans to build a herpetarium in her basement, roughly 30 feet long, 5 feet wide, 8 feet deep. The herpetarium will contain lamps putting out at least 265 watts of electricity.

This is necessary, she said, because:

An iguana, designed by nature for life in a rain forest, can be kept alive only in temperatures ranging between 85 to 100 degrees; and for part of the day, it must be in a "basking" area of 105 degrees or more, Sharon said.

Humidity in the iguana area must be kept at 75 percent or higher. Consider the difficulties of doing this in a house air- conditioned in summer and heated in winter, and you will understand what this means for Sharon. And Bob. And Layton. And Poppet, their Chihuahua.

The iguana must soak up 12 to 14 hours of ultraviolet light daily.

Her original plan, she said, was to move her son, Layton, 14, out of his room and into the finished basement.

She proposed to give his room entirely over to lamps and heat and electric bills and the lizard.

Her husband, Bob, heard about this.

"He said no," Sharon said.

Negotiations ensued.

Sharon decided: Layton gets to keep his room.

"But he has to clean it," she said. "I made him clean it last night."

Some people might wonder why anyone would do this for a lizard.

It's love, Sharon said.

It's a one-way love.

"Iguanas are not affectionate," she said. "They just stare."

This story will baffle many people, I told her. Most pets are useless except for love. Dogs love. Cats love, too -- in a way understood best by cats. Why love a creature that doesn't appear to love you back?

"But that's the key," she said.

"A pet who is demanding, who does not appear to love us back; that's the ultimate challenge to those of us with a strong mothering instinct. And I'm convinced: That's the thing about iguanas. Iguanas bring out a strong mothering instinct. It's the challenge.

"I'm sure of it.

"I got my first iguana after my child no longer presented as much of a challenge."

She said anyone can love a dog.

"That's easy."

"But it takes a real strong mother to love an iguana."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reach Roy Wenzl at 268-6219 or rwenzl@wichitaeagle.com.

Expensive, unaffectionate iguana's a pet only ...

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: Expensive, unaffectionate iguana's a pet only a mother could love : : By Roy Wenzl : : Pets are useful in what they reveal about us. : I'm not sure what Sharon Lupton's iguana reveals about mothers. : But she's got a theory. : Several weeks ago, Sharon's pet iguana died of liver cancer. : Before she died, Dukey had cost Sharon and her husband, Bob, about $1,000 in various expenses in the past five years. Food. Equipment. More on this in a moment. : Sharon mourned Dukey. Sharon's husband did not mourn as much, she said. Or, at least, "he made it clear that he didn't want another iguana." : On June 13, only days after Dukey's death, Sharon read a story in The Wichita Eagle about a loose iguana captured by residents in a north Wichita neighborhood. : Most people would have seen in that story only another cautionary tale about lizards running loose. : Sharon saw a chance for love. : She immediately notified authorities that if an owner didn't claim it, she would give the creature a home. Iguanas are illegal inside Wichita; Sharon lives outside of town. : Three days passed. No owner stepped forward. Sharon took possession June 16 of an adolescent female iguana, nearly 3 feet long. : It came with a tail -- and many requirements. : To keep this creature alive, Sharon Lupton must make certain arrangements. : "Iguanas are not like dogs," Sharon said. "You can keep a dog alive with food and water twice a day, and keep it out of the sun. : "But iguanas are work." : First, she plans to build a herpetarium in her basement, roughly 30 feet long, 5 feet wide, 8 feet deep. The herpetarium will contain lamps putting out at least 265 watts of electricity. : This is necessary, she said, because: : An iguana, designed by nature for life in a rain forest, can be kept alive only in temperatures ranging between 85 to 100 degrees; and for part of the day, it must be in a "basking" area of 105 degrees or more, Sharon said. : Humidity in the iguana area must be kept at 75 percent or higher. Consider the difficulties of doing this in a house air- conditioned in summer and heated in winter, and you will understand what this means for Sharon. And Bob. And Layton. And Poppet, their Chihuahua. : The iguana must soak up 12 to 14 hours of ultraviolet light daily. : Her original plan, she said, was to move her son, Layton, 14, out of his room and into the finished basement. : She proposed to give his room entirely over to lamps and heat and electric bills and the lizard. : Her husband, Bob, heard about this. : "He said no," Sharon said. : Negotiations ensued. : Sharon decided: Layton gets to keep his room. : "But he has to clean it," she said. "I made him clean it last night." : Some people might wonder why anyone would do this for a lizard. : It's love, Sharon said. : It's a one-way love. : "Iguanas are not affectionate," she said. "They just stare." : This story will baffle many people, I told her. Most pets are useless except for love. Dogs love. Cats love, too -- in a way understood best by cats. Why love a creature that doesn't appear to love you back? : "But that's the key," she said. : "A pet who is demanding, who does not appear to love us back; that's the ultimate challenge to those of us with a strong mothering instinct. And I'm convinced: That's the thing about iguanas. Iguanas bring out a strong mothering instinct. It's the challenge. : "I'm sure of it. : "I got my first iguana after my child no longer presented as much of a challenge." : She said anyone can love a dog. : "That's easy." : "But it takes a real strong mother to love an iguana." : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Reach Roy Wenzl at 268-6219 or rwenzl@wichitaeagle.com.

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