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Reunited! And It Feels So Good For A Boy And His 5-Foot Lizard

RIVERSIDE (AP/CBS) — A 5-foot Monitor lizard named Elmer has been reunited with his owner after he was found wandering the streets of Riverside a day ago.

County Animal Services spokesman John Welsh says the reptile's owner, Tom Casarez Jr., was happy to take his pet reptile home on Wednesday.

Elmer escaped through an open door on Sunday while his tank was being cleaned.

Nervous neighbors reported him wandering through their condo complex less than 20 yards from Casarez's home Tuesday afternoon.

An animal services officer and a police officer wrangled him into a cage and he spent the night at the shelter.

Casarez says his father and Elmer like to watch television together.

For the record, Elmer was named after Elmer Fudd.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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