Iggys Story, written with Dave and Sandy (the true heros) permission

Prince Charming: aka Iggy, aka Gonzo!
Another mixed emotion day. A call about an iguana found last night, dehydrated and hungry, but fairly tame,found under a bush outside. After these wonderful people found him (Dave and Sandy, bless you both!) and took him in for the night, the husband doing what added up to hours of research on the internet, they realized they couldn't keep him and care for him. Calling all over town and being turned away and turned down repeatedly, no one wanted to take in the sick deformed little iguana, they finally called a no kill animal shelter that gave them my number. As Sandy spoke to me, I could hear the frustration in her voice, mixed with emotion as she said "we're just trying to save a life! No one will help us!" approximately 30 minutes later, we were meeting in the parking lot of a local pet store so I could take Iggy and give him the care and attention he needed, and obviously hadn't been given in a long while. As I stood there and pulled him out of his box, I realized why none of the pet stores they'd contacted would take him. Iggy had at one time, had a broken jaw and is also showing signs of MBD. Metabolic Bone Disease. This disease is the reptile version of Osteoperosis in humans, while it isn't curable, it normally is manageable, IF its caught in time and the right diet is given, the proper heat maintained and UVB lights or natural sunlight is provided. The question for me is always "am I in time, can I save it, what can I do to make it more comfortable?". With those thoughts running thru my mind, and sensing the frustration and stress from Sandy and Dave, I held back tears, smiled bravely and had a small conversation with the two people who saved Iggys life, after exchanging email addresses, they gave me a donation which is always appreciated, I kissed Iggy repeatedly as I stood there, really liking these people who had tried so hard to find Iggy a place to go where he could get help. I got Iggy home, into the tub and on with a manicure and a long soak, which he actually enjoyed! (WOW! What a difference from Mary!) Because of Iggys deformed jaw, (he has a horrible overbite, to the point where it looks like he has bucked teeth), I didn't know if he was able to eat on his own, I decided to syringe feed him a bit of a slurry to whet his appetite. Ok, so I ended up wearing most of that, but we DID accomplish the manicure! Taking him into the reptile room, and bringing Mary out for her bath, I saw Iggy perk his head a bit and nod in greeting, hmmm...typical iguana behavior, I wondered about his diet. After pooing and bathing Mary, I carried her (and their dinner) into the reptile room and put the platter down on their shelf. Mary, typically combative with anyone but myself, I watched her closely as the smaller, and hungrier apparently, Iggy approached the platter, then dug in. Amazed that Mary had let him eat, merely giving him a bit of a curious evil eye before she herself dug in. Fast forward 10 minutes: 2 full iguanas smacking their lips (er...well...you know what I mean!) and eyeing me, then each other, both their faces now covered in yogurt, banana, collard greens and ensure, a sight I found a lot funnier than they did apparently, BACK to the bath we all 3 went, them being rinsed off, me NEEDING to be rinsed off. After the bath, back to the reptile room for some socializing. Again Iggy nodded slowly in greeting to Mary, who didn't nod back, but did more of a shuddering type nod. Mary was nervous, her being the bigger of the two, I hadn't counted on that. Iggy by this time, was not slowly or gradually, but fast approaching Mary, her head continued to shudder, she arched up and sideways, lifting her tail and gaping at him threateningly, about the time I stood up to intervene, Iggy had made it to her and was by that time climbing up on her back, giving her little licks and nuzzles. Mary looked around a bit as if in shock, then decided it was ok...bonding complete!
A bit of an update, Iggy was adopted out rather quickly by a couple who fell in love with him instantly. Two days later, I was at their house picking him back up. Apparently Iggy hadn't adapted well to them or their surroundings, he was attacking everything and everyone in sight. As soon as I picked him up out of the cage they'd had to put him in, he crawled up into my arms, held on tight and looked at me like "MOM! Where've you been?" Iggy is now home, re-named Gonzo, and happy as a clam. No more violent outbursts or unprovoked attacks. Welcome into the fold Gonzo! you ARE loved!

Update!! Gonzo goes to the vet! Once upon a time, there was a little Ig....no no no, thats not right.  Well..it IS right, but Gonzo is a big Ig now!  I found out a few things after taking Gonzo for a vet check.  Number one, Gonzos jaw had been broken, but in addition to this  his "chin" was shattered,  the "growth" on the side of his face isn't a growth at all, its part of his jaw bone.  (you can see this in the picture, although it just looks like a pink spot.)  Someone had kicked him in the face, a full frontal kick apparently.  Not only does this disgust me, it enrages me.  Gonzo is FINALLY getting some normal iguana coloring back after his sunburn (gee...from being released in the middle of the summer maybe?), he's no longer black all over his back, mostly just his head now.  His nose is pink and white from the sunburn scars, and to be honest, i'm not sure those will ever go away.  His gums are also inredibly enflamed (which I knew) due to the trauma he's suffered.  A huge thanks to Tetra, the makers of Reptomin Soft-gel,  its Gonzos favorite part of breakfast!
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