Cdn Press: They love their reptiles

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on July 23, 2001 at 15:45:32:

In Reply to: Good Point! posted by Candace on July 23, 2001 at 13:12:13:

Mr D. quite correctly pointed out the civic concern with 'credentials' ... perhaps this would help explain what one popular interpretation of Ms Canadace's work is ... at least up here in the 'Great White but very pro-Green North'.

KITCHENER-WATERLOO RECORD (Ontario) 16 July 01 They love their reptiles; Burlington couple rescues maltreated, abandoned lizards (Eugene McCarthy)
St. Jacobs: Jeff Rogers and his wife, Candace Hanson-Rogers, have not forgotten the iguana that came to them from the Kitchener-Waterloo area with its face bashed in by a two-by-four.
Nor does the memory fade easily of the iguana found in a Burlington homeowner's swimming pool with most of its tail chopped off.
The couple, who run an adoption agency called Reptile Rescue from their Burlington home, acknowledge these are extreme examples of cruelty.
The pair, who had an exhibit at yesterday's Waterloo Herpetological Society show in St. Jacobs, are certainly kept busy, especially now that summer is here.
That's when people tend to purchase iguanas, assuming they can survive as easily in winter as in summer.
"People can buy them very cheaply when they are very small and have no idea how big they can get or how expensive it is to properly house them, so they wind up just abandoning them or taking them to pet stores," said Jeff. "We talk to school classes and wherever we are invited to try to educate people about reptiles."
The Rogers have had 22 calls since the beginning of the month and, since they set up the service a little more than two years ago, have placed 470 reptiles, 95 per cent of them iguanas, in new homes.
The couple were among 20 exhibitors at the first show and sale yesterday sponsored by the Waterloo society at the St. Jacobs community centre.
Lisa Pawley of Waterloo arranged yesterday's exhibition with her husband.
They obtained an exemption from the Woolwich Township animal control bylaw for the day to permit the reptiles to be shown.
While there were a few larger snakes and lizards -- all non-venomous -- most reptiles being displayed or offered for sale were in their infancy and housed in small, plastic containers.
While Jeff, 30, works days for a courier company, Candace, 27, runs the adoption business and keeps their colourful and informative Web site (www.reptilerescue.on.ca) up to date.
One of the site's features is a list of iguanas available for adoption with names such as Iggy Schmigabola, Jube Jube and Jaws.
The site also has up-to-date links with related news sources from around the world. For example, there was an Australian newspaper report from yesterday of a notable increase in the number of crocodiles being found in Darwin harbour.
Reptile Rescue takes in "every reptile under the rainbow," said Jeff.
The couple doesn't actually catch stray reptiles. They leave it to humane societies or animal control organizations to do that to ensure local bylaws are followed.
When they are asked to take the reptile, it is placed in a foster home which cares for the reptile until a suitable owner is found.
Sometimes, as with the beaten K-W iguana, named Lucy, or the mutilated Burlington lizard, the caregivers try to restore them to health before putting them up for adoption.
"A lot of them are literally at death's door," said Jeff, noting that before they began caring for them and adopting them, most would be euthanized.
Candace said it took six months for the beaten iguana's wounds to heal and the animal now lives in a caring home in the Ottawa area.
"You have to spend a lot of time with an animal like that," she said.

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VERY nice write up... Mr. D 07/24/01 (0)

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: <i>Mr D. quite correctly pointed out the civic concern with 'credentials' ... perhaps this would help explain what one popular interpretation of Ms Canadace's work is ... at least up here in the 'Great White but very pro-Green North'.</i> : KITCHENER-WATERLOO RECORD (Ontario) 16 July 01 They love their reptiles; Burlington couple rescues maltreated, abandoned lizards (Eugene McCarthy) : St. Jacobs: Jeff Rogers and his wife, Candace Hanson-Rogers, have not forgotten the iguana that came to them from the Kitchener-Waterloo area with its face bashed in by a two-by-four. : Nor does the memory fade easily of the iguana found in a Burlington homeowner's swimming pool with most of its tail chopped off. : The couple, who run an adoption agency called Reptile Rescue from their Burlington home, acknowledge these are extreme examples of cruelty. : The pair, who had an exhibit at yesterday's Waterloo Herpetological Society show in St. Jacobs, are certainly kept busy, especially now that summer is here. : That's when people tend to purchase iguanas, assuming they can survive as easily in winter as in summer. : "People can buy them very cheaply when they are very small and have no idea how big they can get or how expensive it is to properly house them, so they wind up just abandoning them or taking them to pet stores," said Jeff. "We talk to school classes and wherever we are invited to try to educate people about reptiles." : The Rogers have had 22 calls since the beginning of the month and, since they set up the service a little more than two years ago, have placed 470 reptiles, 95 per cent of them iguanas, in new homes. : The couple were among 20 exhibitors at the first show and sale yesterday sponsored by the Waterloo society at the St. Jacobs community centre. : Lisa Pawley of Waterloo arranged yesterday's exhibition with her husband. : They obtained an exemption from the Woolwich Township animal control bylaw for the day to permit the reptiles to be shown. : While there were a few larger snakes and lizards -- all non-venomous -- most reptiles being displayed or offered for sale were in their infancy and housed in small, plastic containers. : While Jeff, 30, works days for a courier company, Candace, 27, runs the adoption business and keeps their colourful and informative Web site (www.reptilerescue.on.ca) up to date. : One of the site's features is a list of iguanas available for adoption with names such as Iggy Schmigabola, Jube Jube and Jaws. : The site also has up-to-date links with related news sources from around the world. For example, there was an Australian newspaper report from yesterday of a notable increase in the number of crocodiles being found in Darwin harbour. : Reptile Rescue takes in "every reptile under the rainbow," said Jeff. : The couple doesn't actually catch stray reptiles. They leave it to humane societies or animal control organizations to do that to ensure local bylaws are followed. : When they are asked to take the reptile, it is placed in a foster home which cares for the reptile until a suitable owner is found. : Sometimes, as with the beaten K-W iguana, named Lucy, or the mutilated Burlington lizard, the caregivers try to restore them to health before putting them up for adoption. : "A lot of them are literally at death's door," said Jeff, noting that before they began caring for them and adopting them, most would be euthanized. : Candace said it took six months for the beaten iguana's wounds to heal and the animal now lives in a caring home in the Ottawa area. : "You have to spend a lot of time with an animal like that," she said.

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