by Emma Grove

For most animal owners, daily walkies in the park is usually an hour’s job.
But Jamie Pardoe and his fiancee Tracy Whiting are often seen coaxing their pets along the pavements.
That is because the pets are two Argentine black and white tegu lizards – complete with leads.
And they caused quite a stir when they popped into the Times Guardian office to have their picture taken, with crowds gathering to have a peek at them.
The lizards live with Jamie, 29, Tracy , 31, at their home in Meyrick Road, Sheerness.
The male, Colonel, who they have had for eight months, is eight years old and the female, Popcorn, is six. She is a new addition to the family, who have had her for about a month.
The couple have a whole menagerie of animals at their home – two bearded dragons, an iguana, three boscs (a type of monitor lizard) and a more conventional Jack Russell terrier.
They usually try to take the lizards out every Saturday, and will sometimes take them out during the week as well.
They said people always stop them to stroke the lizards and ask questions.
Jamie takes the lizards out walking because he said they love the sun and it’s good for their skin.
He said: “They love it – I don’t see the point in locking them in a cage.
“People are usually shocked when they see them because it’s not a common thing to see.
“It took us four hours once to walk through the high street to Meyrick Road.”
The tegus have a diet of chicks, mice and rats, which are kept frozen, fruit and vegetables, and once a month they are treated to a McDonald’s Happy Meal.
The lizards, which are litter trained, are also popular with Tracy’s children, Kane, eight, and Aleesha, nine, and their friends.
Tracy added it take so long to walk their lizards as they stop on the pavement because they like the heat.
“They may not be as cuddly as a dog, but we love having them – if we had the chance of another lizard or another dog, we would go for a lizard.”