Dogs are often first to mind when one thinks what would make a good companion animal.
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If a dog isn't suitable, then the next thought might be a cat, bird or rabbit.
But Albury resident Leanne Stuart has taken on a much more exotic pet to keep her company - a cartoon watching, grocery shopping, bearded dragon.
"I bought Ziggy about an hour out of Melbourne and he was only six weeks old and about two inches long," she said.
Ziggy is now three years old and approximately 27cm long.
"We're pretty much great friends, we do a lot of things together," Ms Stuart said.
Ms Stuart said "lots of things" included going grocery shopping together.
"I like to stimulate his brain, so that's why I take him down the street, but he just sits on my shoulder or on my chest," she said.
Ms Stuart said she doesn't need a harness or lead.
"It's like I'm a lizard whisperer," she said.
According to Ms Stuart, Ziggy also likes to watch the television.
"He loves to watch cartoons in the morning, so I put Sesame Street on," she said.
According to Bush Heritage Australia, bearded dragons can live up to about 17 years and can change colour when aggressive or threatened.
They can also regulate their body temperature through changing their colour by becoming lighter in hot weather and darker in cool weather.
Ms Stuart said Ziggy had orange eyes.
"It's like he's put make up on," she said.
"And he's got orange under his chin, orange under his mouth, and then in the morning he's black, because he's cold and as soon as you put the heat on him or the sun, he turns this beautiful golden colour.
"It's just pretty amazing."
Though Ziggy's skin is a rough, prickly texture, it doesn't stop Ms Stuart from letting him get up close.
"When he wants to go to sleep and I'm watching TV I'll just put him on my stomach, but he crawls right up to my neck and kind of puts his little head under my top and falls asleep," she said.
"I love Ziggy so much. I would die for Ziggy, it's a bit of joke though, I wouldn't really."
But Ms Stuart said as a companion animal, Ziggy did have some drawbacks.
"In winter, he hibernates like snake or bear and I miss him so much," she said.
Native reptiles are protected by law so if you want to keep a native reptile as a pet in NSW or Victoria you need a wildlife license.