January 2013 Newsletter

January 2013 Newsletter

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From: Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption <kathy@iguanaresource.org> To: Kathy <kathy@iguanaresource.org> Cc: Date: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 12:39 am Subject: January 2013 Newsletter

Dedicated to Educating the Public on the Proper Care and Husbandry of the Pet Iguana.

Rescue Me...

No events now, but stay tuned!

When I started RICA, I avoided the word, "rescue." I wanted to create an informational hub for anyone who kept a green iguana as a pet. I saw myself as a matchmaker for people who wanted to adopt an iguana and those who were giving theirs up. That was, of course, naive and it wasn't long after, I was taking in surrendered iguanas.

Some had medical issues that needed vet care, or they had behavioral issues and needed more socialization. I was talking to someone about RICA and they said, "Oh, you rescue iguanas!" All of my reasoning for why I didn't call RICA a "rescue" came rushing to my mind, but never made it to my lips. Instantly, I saw clearly that rescuing iguanas was precisely what RICA is about. Educating people to give the best care to their pet iguana, giving the

About RICA Enriching the lives of pet iguanas and their keepers through quality care information.

sick ones proper medical care and helping the unsocialized ones to better adapt certainly falls within my deďŹ nition of rescue. In that moment I realized it, and said, "Yes I do!"

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So What Does "Rescue" Really Mean?

There are three core aspects to rescue: Remove, Rehab, Re‐home.

Re‐home.

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Removing an iguana from an unsafe environment is a top priority. This aspect of rescue is the most visible and is what readily comes to mind when one thinks of rescue. I have had people say to me, "I rescued an iguana, but I can't keep it. Will you take it?" With rescue comes a huge responsibility and a

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commitment to follow through with the full cycle of the rescue triangle. Taking in a surrendered iguana is only the tip of the rescue iceberg.

Rehabilitation might be simple or complex. The physical health of the iguana is evaluated and a decision is made if vet care is required. Maybe all that is needed is a month or two on a proper fresh food diet, some good UVB light and a safe and warm enclosure. Rehab can also include re‐taming. Iguanas have basic emotional needs too. Creating a consistent feeding and light schedule will help ease the iguana's transition.

Re‐homing is the ultimate goal of any rescuer. Whether the home is back into the wild for an injured swan, or a loving, permanent home for a fostered iguana. And that doesn't mean just "Tossing an iguana to someone and hoping it sticks." It means keeping the iguana until a home can be found that is suitable; no matter how long it takes. I have fostered iguanas for years before finding the right home. Lil' H was just a baby when she was surrendered to me in January 2009. She is still waiting for her forever home.

Re‐homing completes the rescue cycle.

Equally important is giving keepers the necessary information and resources they need to properly care for their pet iguana. In this way, RICA has "rescued" countless iguanas by educating their keepers on the F‐E‐L‐T‐S of iguana care: Food, Enclosure, Lighting, Temperature, and Socialization.

Introducing Jon and Doris Deardorff, founders of Leguan Legune RICA: What motivated you to start a rescue?

JD: I went to see a reptile show hosted by Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary. I was talking with Jesse Rothacker, owner of the sanctuary and I had a couple of my rescued iguanas with me. He said he couldn't rescue iguanas because he would be overrun quickly. It took a few years and a few more iggies, but I decided to form a non‐profit organization dedicated to iguanas. We are registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

RICA: Describe a "typical" day.

JD: I start off with the morning bath routine. Some of them need to be bathed by themselves (quarantine, temperament, etc) while most can be bathed together. While I am bathing iguanas I gather food dishes together and get them to the kitchen. When the baths are done I take care of the feedings for all the reptiles. Living in and operating in a 3 story house with reptiles on every level, I get LOTS of exercise going up and down steps. I then take some time for networking on Facebook, running errands, phone calls, answering questions for other reptile keepers, etc. I also keep an ear open for any activity that shouldn't be such as fighting. Throughout the day I stop by each room to give the animals some one on one time.

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RICA: How many members, if any, in your organization.

JD: Currently we have 5 members. My wife, Doris and a volunteer, Mindy helps with shows and my niece, Kelly has been coming over to help. I also have a webmaster, Andrea that built my website for Leguan Legune.

RICA: What is your Mission Statement?

JD: Dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, & re‐homing of iguanas & other reptiles. It's why we do what we do: Rescuing an animal that needs it gives us a good feeling, getting one to good health is an amazing feeling, having them as our companions is a great feeling, but putting an animal in the home where they belong feels FANTASTIC!!

RICA: Where are you located, and which areas do you serve?

JD: We located in West York, Pennsylvania. We encourage people to drop off at our facility but we go to pick up within a reasonable distance. We don't ship animals due to the stress put on them from the shipping. We are networked with other rescues/sanctuary to get or place animals when needed for space or species of animals.

Our normal area is York County, PA., but we have picked up or received reptiles from the Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Ohio areas through the network.

RICA: Any advice to someone starting a rescue?

JD: Give it a lot serious thought and consideration. It takes a lot of time and money to operate a rescue but is very rewarding to your spirit. Check with your local and state authorities to see what regulations may apply before deciding.

RICA: What does "Rescue" mean to you?

JD: Being a rescue means taking in unwanted or stray animals, getting them healthy and sociable then trying to find an appropriate home for them. I don't really agree with the folks who call themselves a “rescue” because they have taken a few animals and want to be called a rescue without going through any of the legal issues of becoming an establishment. AND NOT BREEDING!!

RICA: Tell us something people don't know about you.

JD: I like attending wine fests and going to the PA. Renaissance Faire in costume. I also enjoy wearing my kilt when I can to Irish festivals, church, and other places.

RICA: What is your best success story?

JD: I would probably have to say my favorite would be 2 iguanas named Fi Monster and PJ. They had come to as “fosters” while the caregiver relocated homes. Fi Monster came to us as Fiona but when I managed to get a good look at the femoral pores, Fiona was definitely a male going into breeding. Fi Monster and PJ never got along so we just kept them separate. In the morning when I was at the table eating breakfast Fi Monster would come downstairs, into the kitchen and climb my legs so he could get morning cuddles. After a few months he started nipping, not biting, but just nipping to let me know how he was feeling. We had a nice chat and I determined that he was really missing his Mom. Working with her landlord we arranged to bring Fi Monster back to her as a surprise. It was then that I wrote the second part of our mission statement as a comment on a Facebook post.

We now have that comment and the photo of Fi Monster's emotional face hanging on the wall in our office area.

My other favorite would be our first adoption, Zilla. She had been with us for about 2 years. We received a call from a friend who was looking for an adult iguana. Zilla and the family took right to each other.

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Website is temporarily unavailable but address is: www.leguanlegune.org Facebook page: www.facebook.com/leguanlegune Email: contact@LeguanLegune.org

As 2012 ends and a new year begins, we here at RICA wish you the very best in 2013!

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