Iguana Abuse - 2 Press Items

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on May 24, 1999 at 20:27:52:

THE TORONTO SUN (Ontario) 21 May 99 It's The Nightmare Of The Iguana
The scales of justice have weighed in against a local iguana that lost its tail and its dignity in an attack with a rake and a can of spray paint by a group of neighbourhood kids.
The roughed-up reptile was recovering at the Toronto Humane Society yesterday after a society employee extricated him from under the hood of a car about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Florence Cres., in the St. Clair Ave.-Jane St. area.
"I had to reach down and pull the claws off the engine. He was quite frightened ... He was covered in paint and his tail was dripping with blood," said society investigator Sarah Jones, adding she wrapped the bloody tail stump in a cloth before rushing the assaulted animal to a vet.
Society staff dubbed him Iggy and rubbed him with an exfoliating scrub to remove much of the noxious paint. But despite the beauty treatment, no one has come forward to claim him.
An eyewitness, who refused to give her name because she feared retribution, said she alerted police when she saw a group of pre-teen kids brandishing a fan rake and a can of spray paint.
"I would say they were trying to kill that animal," said the woman, adding the kids were shouting: "Here it comes, get it!"
The woman said she was relieved to hear Iggy survived the beating, despite having lost about 75% of his tail, which will not likely grow back to its full length.
"I'm so happy. I had a hard time sleeping last night ... it tears me apart to see anyone hurt an animal, the poor thing," she said.
Society spokesman Amy White called on the owner to claim the creature, who looks like a miniature Godzilla but is actually quite gentle and timid.
"If he could purr, he probably would," said White, as Iggy closed his eyes with pleasure while getting an affectionate scratch under the chin by animal technician Shelley Pascoe yesterday.
White said if the kids involved aren't charged, she hopes they will get counselling or help. White noted there has been a recent increase in reports of animal abuse by children and youth, and said research has linked the behaviour with a tendency towards violence against humans.
Police investigators were not available for comment yesterday.

STATES NEWS SERVICE (USA) 13 May 99 Man Charged With Giving Iguana To Fish
South Brunswick, NJ: A contract cleaner at a New Jersey school has been charged with feeding an iguana to the piranhas. Larry Crowley of Hamilton told South Brunswick police that the lizard got into the fish tank by accident... but investigators say that was NOT possible since both tanks were tightly covered and were 20-feet apart. A janitor at South Brunswick High found the partly-eaten iguana dead along with four dead piranha. Crowley has been charged with criminal mischief.

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: THE TORONTO SUN (Ontario) 21 May 99 It's The Nightmare Of The Iguana : The scales of justice have weighed in against a local iguana that lost its tail and its dignity in an attack with a rake and a can of spray paint by a group of neighbourhood kids. : The roughed-up reptile was recovering at the Toronto Humane Society yesterday after a society employee extricated him from under the hood of a car about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Florence Cres., in the St. Clair Ave.-Jane St. area. : "I had to reach down and pull the claws off the engine. He was quite frightened ... He was covered in paint and his tail was dripping with blood," said society investigator Sarah Jones, adding she wrapped the bloody tail stump in a cloth before rushing the assaulted animal to a vet. : Society staff dubbed him Iggy and rubbed him with an exfoliating scrub to remove much of the noxious paint. But despite the beauty treatment, no one has come forward to claim him. : An eyewitness, who refused to give her name because she feared retribution, said she alerted police when she saw a group of pre-teen kids brandishing a fan rake and a can of spray paint. : "I would say they were trying to kill that animal," said the woman, adding the kids were shouting: "Here it comes, get it!" : The woman said she was relieved to hear Iggy survived the beating, despite having lost about 75% of his tail, which will not likely grow back to its full length. : "I'm so happy. I had a hard time sleeping last night ... it tears me apart to see anyone hurt an animal, the poor thing," she said. : Society spokesman Amy White called on the owner to claim the creature, who looks like a miniature Godzilla but is actually quite gentle and timid. : "If he could purr, he probably would," said White, as Iggy closed his eyes with pleasure while getting an affectionate scratch under the chin by animal technician Shelley Pascoe yesterday. : White said if the kids involved aren't charged, she hopes they will get counselling or help. White noted there has been a recent increase in reports of animal abuse by children and youth, and said research has linked the behaviour with a tendency towards violence against humans. : Police investigators were not available for comment yesterday. : STATES NEWS SERVICE (USA) 13 May 99 Man Charged With Giving Iguana To Fish : South Brunswick, NJ: A contract cleaner at a New Jersey school has been charged with feeding an iguana to the piranhas. Larry Crowley of Hamilton told South Brunswick police that the lizard got into the fish tank by accident... but investigators say that was NOT possible since both tanks were tightly covered and were 20-feet apart. A janitor at South Brunswick High found the partly-eaten iguana dead along with four dead piranha. Crowley has been charged with criminal mischief.

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