High Point iguana update: Rescued, and in need of a home

| High Point | How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

Saturday night, we brought you a reader report from Ann, who saw someone drive up to the High Point pond area, release an iguana, and drive away. She got worried about it and tried to find it, and others jumped in to help. Finally – as he first posted in a comment on the original item – Sean spotted it:

I read (the original post) and was thinking of all the different ways he was going to meet him maker: dog, raccoon, car,weather, internal issues from lack of foodâ€¦.

I looked out the window to look at my tree and my neighbors and saw something odd. I went outside and what do you know, the Iguana was catching some rays in my neighbors’ tree. I have always handled reptiles so I knew what I was in for. As I sit here bloody and bruised I can say I have caught the scared little guy. Anyone interested in a pet?

So — interested in an iguana (or know someone who could give it a good home)? Click here to e-mail Sean. MONDAY MIDDAY UPDATE IF YOU DON’T READ COMMENTS: Sean is taking “Lucky” the iguana to the Animal Shelter. We’re there to cover the handoff. He posted that they believed they’d be able to find him a good home. “Lucky” sure picked the right tree to hang out in!

ellenater July 13, 2008 (8:10 pm)

Way to go Sean! What about the zoo?

JT July 13, 2008 (8:28 pm)

Thank-you Ann for reporting this and Sean for your rescue. The cruelty of letting this guy loose in our climate is beyond me. Especially after being raised and becoming dependent on humans. I really wish we would stop buying and selling exotic creatures, but that’s another tirade.

Please keep us posted on the adoption situation. I am not set up myself, but have had a rescue iguana before and would certainly consider trying to help out if no one steps forward.

JanS July 13, 2008 (9:05 pm)

Sean…bloody and bruised and all…thank you for the rescue. Many people would have just let it go. Iggy is very lucky that you found him :)

Diana July 13, 2008 (9:37 pm)

Someone knows someone who had an iguana and no longer does. And they drive a vehicle fitting the description as noted by Ann. Spread the word folks…this is animal cruelty and it is a crime. These people need to be held accountable. Good work Ann and Sean!

Irukandji July 13, 2008 (9:41 pm)

After hearing the This American Life episode about pets, and one in particular about an Alpha Iguana claiming his human mate, I KNOW I’m not in the adopt-an-iguana phase of my life.
..
I highly recommend a set a parents whose daughter has just decided to move in with the boyfriend adopt this pet for their daughter. Perhaps start a rent-and-love-the-iguana group for parents of errant and idealistic (hopefully not yet pregnant) late-teen to early-twenties daughters.

Babs July 13, 2008 (9:48 pm)

Way to go Sean!

Wombat July 13, 2008 (10:09 pm)

Kudos to Sean! I’m not quite sure how long an iguana lives? otherwise I would probably adopt him…I have an unspoken pact with the pets I’ve had over the years that I would care for them until the day they died…and I’ve kept true to this and would hate to let this “little guy” down….

Jill July 13, 2008 (10:39 pm)

Ann and Sean, you both bring tears to my eyes. Thank you for your integrity and kindness!

Random July 13, 2008 (11:38 pm)

Wo0t! Way to go Sean that little guy sure is lucky that you spotted him. I hope that you are able to find him a good home.

me July 13, 2008 (11:42 pm)

Good job.

Susan/singingpixel photography July 13, 2008 (11:58 pm)

I’ll ask around with my friends. I’m not set up for a big iguana but I have herpophile friends who might know how to find him or her a good home.

J July 14, 2008 (12:27 am)

I nominate Ann & Sean for extra gold stars, and a crown apiece. Thank you for taking the time.

I do hope the criminals get caught and pay for their crime.

I also wish I could think of a way to convince people not to take on pets (of any kind) lightly. I’d guess this pair didn’t really want to hurt the iguana, but their ignorance and failure to take responsibility could have hurt him just the same. Would they have acquired it had they known it would have come to this?

miws July 14, 2008 (7:46 am)

Good job Sean!

Please keep an eye on yourself for the next few days or so. I believe I’ve heard that reptiles can pass along salmonella to humans that handle them. I don’t know if the risk is greater with the open wounds, but would be concerned that it might be.

Mike

sean July 14, 2008 (8:27 am)

Hello All,

WOW!!! You would not believe the overwhelming support that has been shown from those who were willing to offer their help and kind words.

I realized that this guy really needs someone that has the ability, resources, and strength to properly take care of him. I do not want the same situation to occur, he has been through enough over the last few days. Given that Iguana’s live very long and can grow up to six feet in length a permanent home is necessary.

To be sure a proper home is found, today, I will be bringing him to the Seattle Animal Shelter. They already have several people they know of looking to adopt an iguana like this. They also assured me that if they can not place him they have rescue homes they can bring him too.

Mike, yes I was careful to take care of myself for potential Salmonella concerns. I believe this occurs more often with younger reptiles but I still took all precautions.

Thanks again, I am glad this story has a happy ending. And a special thanks to West Seattle Blog!!! It is such a great way to be involved with the community.

Sean & “Lucky” the Iguana

C. Talltree July 14, 2008 (9:17 am)

Contact the Pacific NorthWest Herpetological Society (PNWHS) at:

(206) 583-0686
(206) 628-4740
Or through email: http://www.pnwhs.org/EmailContact

I’d recommend all three, as they sometimes are slow to respond. (Tell them you have a reptile, not an iguana, or they will be even slower to respond.) But they WILL respond, and find a good home for the iguana.

C. Talltree July 14, 2008 (9:23 am)

Hey, another thought: You might want to call the police as well and report it. I believe that what happened was a crime, besides being unbearably cruel. They might not be able to do much other than take a report, but even if Ann knows the color of the car, it might help. And, they may be helpful in contacting PNWHS… when they call, the PNWHS folks come right out….

C. Talltree July 14, 2008 (9:36 am)

Lastly, you might also want to contact Tracy Bennett at the Bird and Exotic Clinic of Seattle. She is located at: 4019 Aurora Ave N., Seattle, WA 98103, phone number (206) 783-4538. She handles most of the exotic reptiles in Seattle, and may have a lead on who the original owner was. She may also have suggestions on who might want to adopt it….

d-san July 14, 2008 (10:49 am)

Rant of no value: when I hear about pets being abandoned like this, it makes me want to hunt down the “owners” and do terrible, horrible things to them. Seriously, I scare myself.

Thank you Sean! Thank you to all here who do the right thing, even when it’s difficult and takes effort.

WSB July 14, 2008 (12:18 pm)

FYI all, Patrick is over at the Animal Shelter now to cover the handoff. At least one local TV station who read the saga here was reportedly planning to be there too (no surprise, it’s a totally perfect-for-tv tale) – if they really do show up we’ll mention it in the followup post when our pix etc. are back — TR

Ann July 14, 2008 (10:49 pm)

I’ve been out of touch all day, am shocked at this outcome, and am so amazed at everyone’s support on this, especially my superstar neighbor Sean :) I did speak with the police on Friday night and from what I gathered, in WA it is a crime to abuse animals, but not abandon them. However, abandoning an animal that likely can’t survive on its own seems pretty cruel to me. Thanks everyone – especially WSB for posting!

Xena July 15, 2008 (1:19 am)

Wombat, they can live up to 30 years, but most in captivity make it only half as long (or less). I hope that someone out there can give this one the care it deserves. Thanks, Sean, for keeping an eye out and doing something to boot.

shelly July 17, 2008 (2:53 am)

I just read about the lucky iguana that WAS FOUND BUY SEAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GREAT JOB.I DO NOT KNOW WHY PEOPLE JUST THROW THEIR PETS AWAY LIKE GARBAGE AND IT’S A DAMN SHAME THAT THEY GET AWAY WITH IT.i JUST RESCUED 2 KITTENS WHICH WERE DROPPED OFF ON MY STREET FRIDAY.i HAD TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL ON THE MOST WONDERFUL KITTEN AS I HAVE 3 ALREADY I wished we in seattle had abuse animal laws as new york and other cities do as if you have a pet that is your job and responsibility to take care of them till their last breath comes naturally of course….Thanks shelly in Seattle

Justine July 17, 2008 (3:07 pm)

I’m pretty sure I know who abandoned this poor creature, and it sickens me to think it is one of my neighbors. I had a fleeting thought that they had perhaps taken the iguana to the pond, but I dismissed that because I didn’t want to believe they would actually do that. On behalf of all of us in the High Point community, thank you so much to everyone involved in the iguana’s rescue. I do believe there are more of you than of people who abandon animals, and you deserve the highest praise. Seattle Animal Shelter where I volunteered for many years is a terrific haven for all animals. And iguanas are no execption. For exotics such as him they will go out of their way to hook him up with the right resources and he will be well cared for.

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