A large iguana found duct-taped to a tree along a walking trail in St. Peters is now safe, after a passerby and his dog discovered the animal before it likely succumbed to the elements.
According to FOX40, dog trainer Todd Hall was walking his dog, Mochi, in Dardenne Park when he spotted the iguana. St. Peters Animal Control arrived within minutes after Hall called for help.
Animal control officers wrapped the reptile in a towel and cut away the duct tape, which had pinned its front legs behind its body and secured its back legs to the tree. Despite a feels-like temperature of 110 degrees, the iguana was reportedly very cold when it was found.
The rescue quickly became a local search for whoever abandoned the animal. In a St. Louis Reddit thread, a commenter said Mochi found the iguana in the woods behind Dardenne Park and that animal control later reported it was doing better.
Officials Are Still Looking For The Iguana’s Owner
The St. Peters Health Department is working to identify the iguana’s owner and determine who may be responsible for leaving it tied to the tree. The initial report did not identify a suspect, and city officials asked anyone with information to contact Animal Control.
St. Peters Animal Control can be reached at 636-278-2255. Hall said the iguana might not have survived much longer without being found, while the public response to the rescue encouraged him.
Missouri Law Covers Animal Abandonment And Abuse
Missouri law defines knowingly abandoning an animal without making provisions for its care as animal neglect, a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. The state’s animal-abuse law separately addresses intentionally causing injury or suffering and provides more serious penalties in certain circumstances.
St. Peters’ municipal code also prohibits purposely abandoning an animal or recklessly failing to provide adequate care, as outlined in the city code. Whether any charges are filed will depend on investigators identifying the owner or person responsible and developing evidence of what happened.
