Article: Leapin� lizards, it�s Mr. Whips

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Posted by Desiree on May 14, 2001 at 17:54:12:

Leapin� lizards, it�s Mr. Whips

PETER GILLEN, Gazette Staff Writer May 11, 2001

GOOD FRIENDS: Chris Batten and his pet iguana, Mr. Whips, smiles for the camera.

TAUNTON -- How do you put a leash on a 3-foot Iguana?
Very carefully.

While iguanas range from Canada to southern Argentina, they are rather unusual on Kilmore Avenue, and even more unusual, if that�s possible, walking down Kilmore Avenue on a leash about 11 a.m. yesterday.

Yet even after the inevitable double-take, there was Mr. Whips, an iguana in a black harness, walking on leash.

"It�s more like a drag than a walk," said Taunton resident Chris Batten, who owns Mr. Whips.

Mr. Whips, 2 -- like all members of the iguana family, which eat a mainly vegetable diet -- likes celery, broccoli and kiwi.

Batten said that people often slow down or stare when he and Mr. Whips take to the streets. He said his mail woman reacted particularly strangely.

"The mail lady said, �What kind of dog is that,� " Batten said.

The fact is, Batten doesn�t have to walk Mr. Whips as a last resort or out of some sort of dog-owner mimicry -- he has both a dog, Apocalypse, and a cat, Deaf One.

Mr. Whips earned his name by the manner by which he keeps those mammals at bay.

"He�s easier to walk than my Rottweiler," Batten, who is recovering from back surgery.

Mr. Whips, said Batten, has other fine walking qualities; he is not too fast, and he doesn�t stop to sniff around.

"He just walks right ahead, he doesn�t care," Batten said.

Lizards can distinguish form personal relationships with people, according tostudy published in New Scientists. A lizard named Fido clearly bobbed his head more often when his handler read him a Dr. Seuss book, than when strangers read "Oh the Places You Will Go," according to the study.

Batten�s regular walks follow the prescriptions of iguana experts, who recommend that owners spend quality quiet-time with their lizards.

"Holding your iguana outside while walking and talking with him, offering him colorful bits to eat, can be an enjoyable activity for the both of you," says Melissa Kaplan, author of "Iguanas for Dummies."

�The Taunton Gazette 2001

Leapin� lizards, it�s Mr. Whips

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LOL @ people who think 3' is *big* .... *grin* ... nm iZ's mom 05/14/01 (0)

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: Leapin� lizards, it�s Mr. Whips : : PETER GILLEN, Gazette Staff Writer May 11, 2001 : GOOD FRIENDS: Chris Batten and his pet iguana, Mr. Whips, smiles for the camera. : : TAUNTON -- How do you put a leash on a 3-foot Iguana? : Very carefully. : While iguanas range from Canada to southern Argentina, they are rather unusual on Kilmore Avenue, and even more unusual, if that�s possible, walking down Kilmore Avenue on a leash about 11 a.m. yesterday. : Yet even after the inevitable double-take, there was Mr. Whips, an iguana in a black harness, walking on leash. : "It�s more like a drag than a walk," said Taunton resident Chris Batten, who owns Mr. Whips. : Mr. Whips, 2 -- like all members of the iguana family, which eat a mainly vegetable diet -- likes celery, broccoli and kiwi. : Batten said that people often slow down or stare when he and Mr. Whips take to the streets. He said his mail woman reacted particularly strangely. : "The mail lady said, �What kind of dog is that,� " Batten said. : The fact is, Batten doesn�t have to walk Mr. Whips as a last resort or out of some sort of dog-owner mimicry -- he has both a dog, Apocalypse, and a cat, Deaf One. : Mr. Whips earned his name by the manner by which he keeps those mammals at bay. : "He�s easier to walk than my Rottweiler," Batten, who is recovering from back surgery. : Mr. Whips, said Batten, has other fine walking qualities; he is not too fast, and he doesn�t stop to sniff around. : "He just walks right ahead, he doesn�t care," Batten said. : Lizards can distinguish form personal relationships with people, according tostudy published in New Scientists. A lizard named Fido clearly bobbed his head more often when his handler read him a Dr. Seuss book, than when strangers read "Oh the Places You Will Go," according to the study. : Batten�s regular walks follow the prescriptions of iguana experts, who recommend that owners spend quality quiet-time with their lizards. : "Holding your iguana outside while walking and talking with him, offering him colorful bits to eat, can be an enjoyable activity for the both of you," says Melissa Kaplan, author of "Iguanas for Dummies." : : �The Taunton Gazette 2001

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