WAREHAM BULLETIN (Massachusetts) 30 September 05 Iguana, owner together again (Robert Slager)
It turns out the 4-foot long iguana rescued from a Main Street roof last Sunday is kind of a cupcake after all.
The wayward reptile has been turned over to its rightful owner - a slightly embarrassed Kim Offley of Main Street - during a touching reunion Wednesday morning at the police station.
The mother of 10 has owned the 4-year-old "Cupcake" for nearly six months. She allows the family pet to room free in her home, and she didn't notice until reading last week's paper that the iguana had escaped and caused quite a commotion.
"As soon as I saw the newspaper, I thought, 'oh, God. I'm in trouble,'" she said. "The kids were like, 'mom, youare going to go get him, right?'"
Apparently Cupcake has been known to disappear inside the house for several days.
"We realized we hadn't seen him for a few days, but that's not really unusual," Offley said. "I even saw all the trucks down near that building from my porch on Sunday. I thought they were trying to rescue some animal. It never occurred to me that it could be Cupcake."
Both the fire and police departments responded to a call last week that "a monster was on the roof of a building," according to animal control officer Karlson Wood, who had named the iguana "Corona" until an owner stepped forward.
"He's not exactly a monster," Wood said.
With the use of the ladder on Engine 2, firefighter Dave Wahlstrom finally netted the slippery suspect as a gathering crowd looked on. Cupcake was taken to the Humane Society in Dartmouth before being handed over to Marla Isaac of New England Reptile and Raptor.
"Cupcake was in excellent condition," Isaac said. "He doesn't like to be confined, though. But he has a good appetite. He likes romaine lettuce. "
Isaac would have held on to Cupcake for a few more weeks before putting him up for adoption.
"Most owners wouldn't have come forward," she said. "It's doubtful that many people would have wanted to adopt an iguana of this size. I probably would have wound up keeping him."
When reunited with his owner, Cupcake appeared very content.
No charges will be filed against owner or iguana.
"If we ever have another iguana sighting on Main Street, I'm going to knock on your door first," Wood said.
Offley could only blush.
http://www.townonline.com/wareham/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=337168
WAREHAM BULLETIN (Massachusetts) 23 September 05 Leapin' lizards (Robert Slager)
A four-foot long iguana with an awful lot to live for escaped from a perilous perch on Sunday, thanks to the heroic efforts of the Wareham fire department.
The unclaimed iguana came dangerously close to falling off the roof of an abandoned house next to Joe's Gas on Main Street around 11 a.m. Sunday. A crowd quickly gathered below, imploring the frightened reptile not to jump.
"Don't end it all. There's still hope," one man shouted, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
Wareham animal control officer Carl Wood tried in vain to coax the iguana down. Several members of the police and fire departments soon joined the rescue attempt.
"I must have missed the day they taught iguana rescue at the police academy," said Sgt. Eileen Grady.
With Engine 2 on the scene, firefighter Dave Wahlstrom braved the hot sun and rode the ladder above the roof of the three-story building. Armed with only a net, he corralled the slithery trespasser after a few tense moments.
"This was certainly the most unique rescue I've been involved in," he said. "The toughest part was getting the iguana to cooperate. We didn't want to spook him and have him fall."
Wahlstrom received thunderous applause from the crowd when he descended with reptile in hand.
"Just doing my duty," Wahlstrom said.
If no owner steps forward, Wood said the reptile will likely be turned over to an educational institution. "Corona," so named by Woods because of the iguana's resemblance to the Mexican beer's pitch-reptile, was taken to Family Pet on Cranberry Highway for safekeeping. Corona was then transferred to the Human Society's South Coast office in Dartmouth.
While most observers were pleased that Corona survived his ordeal unscathed, Grady still wanted to press charges against the mischievous trespasser.
"I say cuff him."
Talk about cold-blooded.
http://www.townonline.com/wareham/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=331583&format=
