Livingstone needs a new home

Livingstone

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Jul 18, 2009
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761
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Richmond, Va
Hello TFO,

My 9 year old sulcata, Livingstone, is in need of a new home where he can be outside all year round.
Currently we are living in Richmond Virginia and the winters are too cold for him to be outside all year round, and he is just too big to be inside for 6 months a year.

If you are interested in adopting Livingstone, you must have tortoise experience, a fenced yard, a suitable enclosure, and a strategy for long term care (vet, etc).

My wife and I are serious about finding him a good home, I'm not interested in just handing him off to the first person who says they have a yard. There will be questions about your ability and knowledge prior to any adoption taking place. Also, we will be transporting him to you so please don't attempt to scam or waste my time.

You can follow Livingstone's care and growth by searching through my post history, there are many posts, titled "Livingstone update". We have raised him since he was a hatchling, and I am only doing this so he can have a better life outside all year round.

Livingstone is currently 65 pounds, I will post updated pictures over the next week.
 

wellington

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Why not just build a heated shed for him for winter? Many people live in colder winter states and own a sulcata. They have even been known a lot to go out into the snow.
 

Livingstone

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Why not just build a heated shed for him for winter? Many people live in colder winter states and own a sulcata. They have even been known a lot to go out into the snow.

With all due respect, this is the option that I am seeking for a variety of reasons. However, since you seem to think that in my 9 years of ownership that I may have somehow overlooked that option let me elaborate.

I rent my house in Richmond, I have built no fewer than 5 heated sheds since I have owned Livingstone, including disassembling and reassembling each of them when I had to move.

I am also starting a masters program which will be taking up every waking moment of my existence in an area outside of Richmond. It is not fair to Livingstone or my wife.

I realize that my decision to own a sulcata was obviously a myopic one, but given that I have invested 9 years of my life and provided the best care in a challenging environment, please try not chastize me by offering options which any sane person would have already considered.

Thank you,
R
 

Yvonne G

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I'm so sorry your circumstances dictate finding a new home for Livingstone. I know how much he has meant to you. I hope you're able to find a wonderful home for him. Good luck! And good luck with your masters program.
 

wellington

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With all due respect, this is the option that I am seeking for a variety of reasons. However, since you seem to think that in my 9 years of ownership that I may have somehow overlooked that option let me elaborate.

I rent my house in Richmond, I have built no fewer than 5 heated sheds since I have owned Livingstone, including disassembling and reassembling each of them when I had to move.

I am also starting a masters program which will be taking up every waking moment of my existence in an area outside of Richmond. It is not fair to Livingstone or my wife.

I realize that my decision to own a sulcata was obviously a myopic one, but given that I have invested 9 years of my life and provided the best care in a challenging environment, please try not chastize me by offering options which any sane person would have already considered.

Thank you,
R
No need to get offended or snippy. Simply a suggestion in hoping it would give you an option of keeping him. There are many members that don't think or know that a sulcata will do fine in the cold states with a heated shed and allowed to choose to go outside. So no, I wouldn't have a clue that you might have thought of it.
 

Livingstone

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Richmond, Va
No need to get offended or snippy. Simply a suggestion in hoping it would give you an option of keeping him. There are many members that don't think or know that a sulcata will do fine in the cold states with a heated shed and allowed to choose to go outside. So no, I wouldn't have a clue that you might have thought of it.

My apologies, it's a sore subject, and one that has consumed me for the past month.
 

Livingstone

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I'm so sorry your circumstances dictate finding a new home for Livingstone. I know how much he has meant to you. I hope you're able to find a wonderful home for him. Good luck! And good luck with your masters program.

Thank you
 

EllieMay

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I do hope that you find a solution that makes you secure knowing you’ve done what’s best for ALL of your family.(tortoise included).. I was not planning on having an adult that stayed outside for several years yet but I have the means to make it happen if I needed to. I am a long way away from you but if you dont find another option that your completely comfortable with, let me know.
 

ascott

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Apple Valley, California
Hello TFO,

My 9 year old sulcata, Livingstone, is in need of a new home where he can be outside all year round.
Currently we are living in Richmond Virginia and the winters are too cold for him to be outside all year round, and he is just too big to be inside for 6 months a year.

If you are interested in adopting Livingstone, you must have tortoise experience, a fenced yard, a suitable enclosure, and a strategy for long term care (vet, etc).

My wife and I are serious about finding him a good home, I'm not interested in just handing him off to the first person who says they have a yard. There will be questions about your ability and knowledge prior to any adoption taking place. Also, we will be transporting him to you so please don't attempt to scam or waste my time.

You can follow Livingstone's care and growth by searching through my post history, there are many posts, titled "Livingstone update". We have raised him since he was a hatchling, and I am only doing this so he can have a better life outside all year round.

Livingstone is currently 65 pounds, I will post updated pictures over the next week.

I totally get what you are saying...sometimes it is inevitable and you are doing the good thing for the tort....yes, interview lots and you and Livingstone will do well....Best wishes on your twos adventure...it is that, even though it may not feel like such right now ...
 

Pearly

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Jul 14, 2015
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5,287
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Central Texas, Austin area
Hello TFO,

My 9 year old sulcata, Livingstone, is in need of a new home where he can be outside all year round.
Currently we are living in Richmond Virginia and the winters are too cold for him to be outside all year round, and he is just too big to be inside for 6 months a year.

If you are interested in adopting Livingstone, you must have tortoise experience, a fenced yard, a suitable enclosure, and a strategy for long term care (vet, etc).

My wife and I are serious about finding him a good home, I'm not interested in just handing him off to the first person who says they have a yard. There will be questions about your ability and knowledge prior to any adoption taking place. Also, we will be transporting him to you so please don't attempt to scam or waste my time.

You can follow Livingstone's care and growth by searching through my post history, there are many posts, titled "Livingstone update". We have raised him since he was a hatchling, and I am only doing this so he can have a better life outside all year round.

Livingstone is currently 65 pounds, I will post updated pictures over the next week.

I can only imagine how torn up you must be coming to this decision. Sometimes no matter how many “plan B’s” we make, life happens, and throws things at us that we could have not predicted/prepared for. Wishing you best of luck finding an new loving family for your Livingston and wishing you peace about this. Only want to say, that 8 yrs ago I adopted a beautiful Maine Coon kitty from a family who after 1 year could no longer keep him. That lady was so heart broken, but really had no better option. After I took Maxi, I had kept her posted with his progress and kept sending her pictures of him having fun and being loved on by everybody here and after some time I think she started feeling ok about making that choice because Maxi has been one spoiled rotten cat adored by everyone here, and he’s been such a blessing to us. I couldn’t be more grateful. I hope and will say a prayer that you may get matched up with a family who NEEDS your Livingston in their life. Blessings and peace to you[emoji217]
 

Livingstone

Active Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
761
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, Va
I do hope that you find a solution that makes you secure knowing you’ve done what’s best for ALL of your family.(tortoise included).. I was not planning on having an adult that stayed outside for several years yet but I have the means to make it happen if I needed to. I am a long way away from you but if you dont find another option that your completely comfortable with, let me know.

Thank you, we are in the process of working something out currently, if that falls through I will definitely follow up.
 

EllieMay

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5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
9,603
Location (City and/or State)
East Texas
Thank you, we are in the process of working something out currently, if that falls through I will definitely follow up.

That is great! I really hope it does work out.. Good luck to you and Livingstone
 
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