AG T ;T REPTILES
PudgyandbestpalHeather BY SINDI SOMERS | SAN DIEGO PETS
I
t’s a sunny day with a cool wind blowing in downtown San Diego. I cross the street with Heather Wilson who carries Pudgy her six year old Bearded Dragon, or Beardie as referred to by people in the know. We settle into the outdoor patio of a café and I can’t resist, but to ask to hold this adorable creature measuring 18“ from nose to the tail end. “Of course!” Heather says without hesitation as she hands me Pudgy, who I will come to learn is a true survivor. Heather herself is also a survivor. Successfully beating cancer three times in her young 35 years of life. Appearing now as the picture of health, Heather trains regularly for marathons raising funds to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Before relocating to San Diego almost three years ago, Heather and Pudgy were living in Miami, Florida. Their introduction came unexpectedly, when Heather received a call from a police officer friend saying, “we raided a house where they were manufacturing methamphetamines and there is this animal we found there. I was wondering if you could take care of it for a couple weeks till we figure out what to do with it.” Heather replied, “What do you mean an animal? What kind of an animal?” Heather thought perhaps a bird or a hamster. Her friend replied, “a lizard.” “A lizard?!“, Repeated Heather. Uncertain about the situation she soon met the small terrified Bearded Dragon estimated to be about a year and a half old. “My heart broke when Pudgy looked up at me,“ Heather said. Living in a filthy enclosure, obvious neglect and malnutrition had effected this Beardie’s growth. For Heather it was love at first sight. For Pudgy it was the beginning of a new life, which could be compared to a child’s fantasy of daily visits to Disneyland! 16
JULY 2011 | sandiegopetsmagazine.com
Pudgy’s weight doubled within three months and what started out as a temporary two week favor has led to over four years of loving companionship for both. The now amazingly healthy, vibrant and well adjusted Pudgy not only has a clean terrarium to live in but enjoys frequent outings to public places. Heather and Pudgy sharing these parallel experiences of survival and healing confirms my belief that our companion animals are reflections of ourselves. Sitting before me I see two beautiful beings who have overcome obstacles to get to where they are today, mirroring each others strength and beauty. After sharing their story, Heather says with exuberant appreciation, “This little lizard has taught me so much!“ And she has obviously taught Pudgy much. Learning from each other as they explore life’s opportunities. When out and about Pudgy is trained to walk on a leash, but is often carried depending on the location as safety is a always a priority. Balboa Park is a favorite destination for the pair giving Pudgy space to roam with furry friends, including rabbits that are also leash trained. Heather said Pudgy also likes to cuddle up and sleep with two cat friends and has a canine companion that “goes crazy for Pudgy!” Heather founded a children’s book company and plans on self publishing a series of books highlighting the adventures of Pudgy