Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 17/98) - Whether it's cats and dogs or turtles and iguanas, Yellowknifers love their pets.

Dogs and cats are still firm favorites, but there are a number of unusual pets around as well.

The manager of JJ Hobbies, Jennifer Eggenberger, says, the most popular pets she sells are fish. "Then the smaller animals like gerbils and rabbits. We can order tarantulas."

The staff at JJ Hobbies encourage customers who request exotic pets to read and learn about them before they arrive. "Pets like snakes are a big responsibility -- and they live for a long time" adds Eggenberger.

Bev Bowden and her family have been the proud owners of a turtle named Howard for 12 years. "I thought (Howard) would live for about six months," she says. "But here we are!"

When the Bowdens got him, Howard was the size of a 50-cent piece. "Now he's a good 10 inches long by six inches wide," says Bev. Owning a turtle can be a handful. Bev remembers once going out and leaving Howard in the laundry room sink because his tank was leaking.

"When we came home the hot water was on full blast, the laundry room ... flooded and the turtle was gone!" Howard had inadvertently turned the water on, the sink had filled, and he had been washed out into the living room. The Bowdens found him resting peacefully on the fireplace mantle.

Nancy Stannard has been collecting big birds for 15 years and has 28 birds dotted all over her home. Among them are cockatoos, African greys and blue and gold macaws.

Nancy takes in a lot of birds -- both abused and those people leave behind when they move. "I take them with the intention of giving them away," explains Nancy. "But then I get attached to them and I can't bear to part with them."

She tried to train an African grey to sing the Blue Jays song during the World Series, but wouldn't co-operate. "The day after the World Series ended, I took the cover off his cage and he started singing the song." she remembers.

Tammy Saunders is another Yellowknifer with some unusual pets. Seven years ago, she acquired a pet iguana, and she named him Mr. Spock. While Tammy is at home, Mr. Spock, who is now five feet long, roams around the house. He loves sleeping in sunny spots or sitting on her lap.

She feeds him a high-calcium, vegetarian diet. "It's important to supplement their vitamins and minerals because they're used to a lot of sunlight. In the summer it's fine, but in the winter they can deteriorate quickly," Tammy explains.