flesh eating lizard on the loose (news artical)

[peterm15]

Flesh eating lizard may harm children


Canadian Press


Monday, July 18, 2005


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GUELPH, Ont. -- A giant flesh-eating lizard is on the prowl in southwestern Ontario and police say it could pose a danger to children or small animals.

The nearly two-metre long, 24-kilogram Asian water monitor lizard -- named T-Rex -- has been on the loose in Guelph, Ont., since it escaped early Friday morning.

“I'd hate to see a three- or four-year-old go up to it out of curiosity and get chomped on,” Guelph police Sgt. Joe Hall said.

The reptile's owner, Fred MacPherson, found the gate to the lizard's backyard cage open and its rope-leash snapped.

MacPherson, 43, is legally allowed to own the lizard, but police said he may be liable if the lizard causes any damage while it is at large.

He reported the lizard's disappearance to the Guelph Humane Society immediately on Friday and then called to report it to police on Saturday.

The huge lizard is black with a white underbelly and a white neck. It is shaped like an alligator and has a snake-like tongue.

MacPherson said T-Rex would only attack a person if it was cornered.

“It would smack a kid with its tail,” he said. “If a kid put a hand near its mouth, it would bite.”

Asian water monitors are scavengers, eating anything they can find, dead or alive. MacPherson mostly feeds T-Rex fish and chicken gizzards.

Neighbour Geoff Martin, 20, who lives across the street from MacPherson, said he is a bit concerned for the safety of his cat.

“It's a little bit concerning, but that lizard is not usually too aggressive,” he said.

“If I had a little kid, I definitely wouldn't be letting it outside right now -- just to be safe,” he said.

Martin said he has seen the lizard loose before, chasing MacPherson's dog down the street.

The lizards are extremely fast on the ground and can swim underwater for over half an hour.



http://www.canada.com/hamilton/news/...7-d767371443ca

[peterm15]

i guess you can classify this as bad press

[Rikki]

Yeah, I would say so.

[DragnDrop]

The late night news yesterday on CKCO had that story, but they mentioned T-Rex was found and is back home. However, the owner said he'd be taking him outside on a leash again.

[Rikki]

Thats great he is back home, and un harmed.

[Ixidor]

That guy had a monitor on a leash ?!?!?!

[snakelover111]

lol they make leashes for everything now go to yur local pet store and u will find iguana leashes.

[Gramma Rose]

Dang! You got to the article before I did! I was hoping to post it :P Ah well.

[peterm15]

lol... my mom told me first thing this mornin.. so i found it on the net

[galad]

wow thats insane guys lol

snake lover your dancing spiderman is freaking awsome lmfao

ws

[cjice]

Napoleon Spiderman...Thats great..lol

[Linds]

Ummm... why is nobody trying to prevent him from repeating the same leash incident again? You cannot tether a lizard out in your yard, that's just ridiculous. They can be either kept in a secure, escape-proof cage or inside the home.

[Janiman]

I actually live a couple of blocks from this guy (I've never met him). He said in the local paper that he only had it out because he was building a bigger cage for it and that it was both leashed and in a cage at the time (why he had a leash on it while it was in a cage is beyond me). Anyway, I'm sure we're going to see even more restrictions imposed by our town councel now that this has happened. There are times when I think that licensing would be a good idea... and with idiots like him, this is one of them!

[-okapi-]

I kinda wonder if that guy they quoted just said random stuff to make himself look stupid:

It's a little bit concerning, but that lizard is not usually too aggressive,” he said.

“If I had a little kid, I definitely wouldn't be letting it outside right now -- just to be safe,” he said.

Martin said he has seen the lizard loose before, chasing MacPherson's dog down the street.

[K1LOS]

oh god, you gotta love the title they came up with: "flesh eating lizard may harm your children." Now if that isn't going to instill fear in all the mothers around kingston what is? All they need to say was large pet lizard ran away, keep your distance and call this number if you see it. There you have it, nice, simple, effective, and doesn't create hostility towards our hobby. But you gotta love the press. Can't put all the blame on them though, this guy should have been much more responsible. Anything capable of harming another person should never be left unattended outdoors. Personally i would leave anything of mine outdoors alone ( lol even my dog, but thats by his own choice, he follows me back in).

anyways, this article just gives the municipalities more ammo against us. We keep giving it to them and we will be stuck with nothing but corn snakes and leopard geckos that we can legally keep. YAY.

Geoff