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Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by DinaLynn on 11/6/2009, 2:17 pm
71.230.133.173

There was a nice Guatemalan couple who use to frequent our local reptile rescue and they to seemed to take in a way to many Iguanas that it seemed a normal household could support.

The owner of the rescue said he vetted them thoroughly and they knew all about using the proper UVB and Calcium supplements and all that jazz.

But after inquiring for a 15th Iguana (in the same year!) Joe got suspicious and asked to see the living conditions of the other Iguanas. Thats when he was shown a huge awesome enclosure with Mega RAY lights, a running waterfall and a huge area for the iguana to swim and soak. The enclousre was huge with many basking areas and places to climb. But the problem was there was not even one Iguana to be found. After further questions Jose admitted that he nurses the Iguanas back to health and when they get healthy and fattens up he slow roasts them in garlic butter to be sold at the local farmers market!!!!

Horrified Joe banned them from ever coming to his Rescue ever again!

I was outraged when I heard the story because my own Reptar was at the same rescue and could of met the same fate.

Didn't know anyone ate Iguanas in south jersey .

After a little research I found that this is big issue and allot of people looking for Iguanas on craigslist are looking to eat them not pet them!

:(

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Aimee on 11/8/2009, 9:10 am, in reply to "Eating Adopted Iguanas"
76.181.62.1

omg, we adopt out rescued Iguana's. Did this rescue charge a adoption fee?

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Eric on 11/6/2009, 5:29 pm, in reply to "Eating Adopted Iguanas"
71.229.180.8

Does iguana taste better than other animals? It certainly doesn't seem like raising a few at a time in a pet-like environment is cost-effective. You could probably get it shipped from FL a lot cheaper.

Farming/ranching is most economical when the local environment provides everything the animal needs. When you have to provide heat, special lights, and diets and also lack the benefits of economies of scale then it becomes very expensive meat.

I'm not saying it's not possible, just unlikely due to economics. What's more likely would be taking igs off of CL and eating them immediately rather than investing time and money into them. If you were eating them, you would probably be less picky about their health than if you wanted them as a pet.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Adam on 11/6/2009, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Eating Adopted Iguanas"
166.188.73.96

I work with several people from Salvador, and down there iguana for dinner is like us eating chicken. I'd have I say that I would much rather see a rescue iguana get fair and well treatment as in this case than being left to rot in an overfilled rescue. I know people who have pets cows, chickens, etc, doesn't make them all that way.
I could see how this is gonna be a touchy subject. But think of it like our elderly people, some of them have the option to stay in a hospital or nursing home hooked up to all those machines to stay alive, but still choose to go home and leave life happy. Sounds like that same chance is being given to an iguana here. I'm not saying anything bad about the rescue at all, or hospitals and nursing homes for that matter. But when the end is inevitable eithe way, wouldn't you rather spend your last bit of time here being where your happy and feel more at home?

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Jacob on 11/6/2009, 2:30 pm, in reply to "Eating Adopted Iguanas"
75.68.198.33

Hmm.. I hope I'm not viewed as a bad person for saying, but to me that doesn't sound as bad as what some people out there do. Like, it sounds like he's at least raising them in humane conditions and treats them well. In my opinion there are many things worse than death for an animal and at least this man doesn't sound like he's contributing to that.

Not saying at all that I support "rescuing" iguanas for food items. Just stating that I personally don't express total outrage since it sounds like he's at least responsible in the care for them.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Tarren on 11/6/2009, 5:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
66.63.203.29

I have to agree with you here, Jacob, the lying part was horrible, but apparently those iguanas got better care than chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals people eat get to have, they get stuffed in small cages with no light and cramped and bad feed and dirty water and no care is taken for them veterinary wise. At least these iguanas got good care while they lived. I don't see the difference in doing this and doing it to chickens.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Chaos123x on 11/6/2009, 6:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
166.137.134.137

I still would not want someone eating my grand parents no matter how well they were treated.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Adam on 11/8/2009, 6:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
32.170.71.175

Yes, that was an odd alliteration, I apologize. But to me pets are like family too, and for several people I know their pets are about their only family.
What I was looking at was the fact that the animals were treated fairly and well maintained. I would rather see them end their life in that atmosphere rather than stuck in some inadequate cage slowly dying from shoddy husbandry and a diet less than suitable for a reptile.
Personally, if I were in the iguana's place, I would rather be dinner than fertilizer for the wastebasket.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Tarren on 11/6/2009, 10:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
66.63.203.29

I'm sure comparing iguanas and grandparents is a *little* odd, but I guess I agree, however, one must realize it all depends on where someone was born and raised as to what constitutes food. Just because we in america only get our protein from 5 max. sources, doesn't mean that other parts of the world do too. It's all culture, one is no more correct than another. Hindus would be outraged for stories of bulls and cows being slaughtered for meat, just like americans are outraged about stories of dogs and cats. It's still an animal, regardless of whether or not we choose to cohabitate with it or not. Just because cows aren't lucky enough to be small and super adorable doesn't mean it is any less of a life than your iguana, unless you are a vegetarian, then you shouldn't get upset about ANY animal being killed for food. It's not like he was killing them to stuff and turn into souvenirs.

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by Mindy on 11/7/2009, 4:53 am, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
76.170.3.112

I know that I personally couldn't keep an animal only to end up eating it. Earning its trust, looking into its eyes day after day. But then I am a vegetarian. And yes, I don't really see a distinction between what kind of animal is killed for food; an animal is an animal regardless (though I have to say that I'm partial to cats and iguanas because I like them). :)

I think it's a cultural difference as well as an economic one. In Mexico, Guatemala, etc., iguanas are an accepted food source just as chickens and cows are in America. However, in America there are cheaper, more *socially acceptable* options. That guy just likes the taste of iguanas and probably grew up eating them. It could be compared to an American wanting steak in India.

What bothers me is the deception aspect. And, as weird as this sounds, I would almost be happier if they were turned into souvenirs instead... at least there would be something left in the end besides... well you know. ;) I wonder what this rescue group's adoption contract looks like (if they have one). Most likely he *was* breaking rules by not allowing them to live out their natural life. I'm also assuming that he (hopefully) killed them humanely before cooking them.

Mindy
Oggie, Paquita, Drago, and Reno

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Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas

Posted by DinaLynn on 11/6/2009, 2:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
71.230.133.173

ehh maybe, but it could told them WHY he was getting so many Iggs. Was a bit deceptive to me.

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ANYTHING would taste good roasted in garlic butter!

Posted by captbob on 11/6/2009, 7:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Eating Adopted Iguanas"
71.122.130.122

oops... someone better call the Caps police!

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Re: ANYTHING would taste good roasted in garlic butter!

Posted by pat on 11/7/2009, 9:17 pm, in reply to "ANYTHING would taste good roasted in garlic butter!"
75.163.107.240

I have to say that there are two things at least that don't taste good roasted in garlic butter. They were hard to find and as Herman Hess would say "he who is roasted in garlic butter cannot tell you how it tastes"

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