Cayuga County Animal Control, who had picked up a wandering

      lizard...a savannah monitor.

 

     We retrieved the animal and per our normal agreement, held the

     animal in trust for Animal Control for the remainder of the 10 day

     hold period, hoping an owner may come forward. However, no one

     spoke up.

 

      As we handled the animal, we discovered he had a delightful

      personality. He was sweet and he immediately took to Volunteer

      Alyx Roberts. She loved him in return. His personality was so endearing that everyone whom he met just adored him. Following our Shakespearean influence for names, we affectionately named him Iago.

 

Unfortunately, Iago suffered a common malady that affects many captive monitors. He was grossly obese.

 

Often times, owners over feed the captive lizards and because they are housed in smaller enclosures, they generally don't get enough exercise - lending to obesity and poor muscle tone. As in humans, obesity can cause very severe health problems, including heart problems and circulatory problems.

 

We put Iago on a diet and allowed him plenty of ground access to move around in while outside. In a solid and secure enclosure, he was able to get exercise and enjoy the sun. We hoped our actions would help him lose weight and bring him back to being a healthy lizard.

 

We included him into our educational programs and was an immediate success. The kids and families just loved him. We were very happy to have him along and he was a wonderful reptilian ambassador.

 

Unfortunately, while doing his ambassador work, he was with us at the State Fair meeting his adoring fans. Suddenly, he began to have mild seizures and muscle spasms. We immediately sought veterinary care.

 

For the next week, we made every effort to determine what was wrong with Iago. The doctors ran every imaginable test. Meds were given, warm soaks, heat pads and every way to make Iago comfortable was done.

 

Sadly, after a week, Iago lost his struggle with life. He passed away quietly after spending a night resting as comfortable as we could make him in the arms of the crew who loved him so much.

 

A necropsy showed that his belly was just full of abdominable fat, more than his little body and circulatory system could handle, and more than a healthy savannah monitor should have.

 

It nevers ceases to amaze me how an animal can so quickly and easily steal one's heart. Iago was no different. In only a few short months, Iago successfully stole the hearts of everyone he met. It is irrelevant if it is a matter of days or a matter of years, each animal leaves such an impression. That impression does not disappear easily.

 

Iago's impression lingers on, as does the memory of his delightful personality. We know that Iago will be waiting for us one day, at the shores of the Rainbow Bridge.