Curtis's latest escapade

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
I've been off at college for the past month, and Curtis has been at home under the care of my parents. last time I was able to visit was about 3 weeks ago, and right before I had to leave, I let them know that the ground had shifted and one of the gates to Curtis's yard could no longer be properly secured closed.

I returned home very late Thursday, and first thing yesterday morning, I went outside to see the tortoises. Wouldn't you know it, I'm greeted with a very open gate and no sign of Curtis.

My parents say the last time they saw him out grazing was just a couple of days ago, so I figure he couldn't have been gone for long, and after I thoroughly search the yard, I post on nextdoor, craigslist, and the lost/found pets page for my city. Today we put up fliers all around the neighborhood and then some.

Only to find out from someone on nextdoor that Curtis has been out and about since at least Monday the 19th and was last seen walking along the median on a very busy road. Luckily I think it would be very apparent if he had been hit and animal control would likely have been called, but I called them and they said they have not seen or heard anything about it. If I had not been brought home this weekend, I'm doubtful that Curtis would have been discovered missing for a while. As I'm writing this, someone else has commented that they saw a turtle identical to him the week of sept 12-16, but I'm not sure how reliable that source is.

My parents have been very busy so I suppose that I can't blame them too much, but it is a little frustrating that Curtis has been missing for at least five days and no one noticed. Here's to hoping we find him soon. It's been over two years since his last adventure.
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
7,119
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
I've been off at college for the past month, and Curtis has been at home under the care of my parents. last time I was able to visit was about 3 weeks ago, and right before I had to leave, I let them know that the ground had shifted and one of the gates to Curtis's yard could no longer be properly secured closed.

I returned home very late Thursday, and first thing yesterday morning, I went outside to see the tortoises. Wouldn't you know it, I'm greeted with a very open gate and no sign of Curtis.

My parents say the last time they saw him out grazing was just a couple of days ago, so I figure he couldn't have been gone for long, and after I thoroughly search the yard, I post on nextdoor, craigslist, and the lost/found pets page for my city. Today we put up fliers all around the neighborhood and then some.

Only to find out from someone on nextdoor that Curtis has been out and about since at least Monday the 19th and was last seen walking along the median on a very busy road. Luckily I think it would be very apparent if he had been hit and animal control would likely have been called, but I called them and they said they have not seen or heard anything about it. If I had not been brought home this weekend, I'm doubtful that Curtis would have been discovered missing for a while. As I'm writing this, someone else has commented that they saw a turtle identical to him the week of sept 12-16, but I'm not sure how reliable that source is.

My parents have been very busy so I suppose that I can't blame them too much, but it is a little frustrating that Curtis has been missing for at least five days and no one noticed. Here's to hoping we find him soon. It's been over two years since his last adventure.
Wow. Good luck to you finding him soon, safe and sound.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Just received quite the call. Just to spare people the panic I had to endure, this was most likely not Curtis. A woman called me to let me know that they had found my tortoise, but they weren't 100% sure. One problem, he had been hit by a car. I asked if he was alive, and they told me no, very much dead, and quite a mess. One drive to chick-fil-a later, no gruesome roadkill to be found, and the employees say that they didn't see anything. It was also over a mile away, and though the direction he was seen heading in, He would have had to walk along the road and go through multiple intersections for quite a while. They also said it was yesterday after I called them again, and I feel like animal control would have been notified and people would be mentioning it, and I called animal control to check.

Quite the heart attack.
 

OliveW

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2022
Messages
286
Location (City and/or State)
Branford, FL
I'm so sorry. I hope you locate him.

Do you have facebook? I know lots of people don't like it, but there are so many people that use it, a community page or lost pets group, or both would be good places to post. I would personally make an account just for that if you don't already use facebook.

Maybe you could put an AirTag on him when you find him? I've seen reviews on Amazon of holders put on the back end of tortoises. I don't think they work that far, but at least you'd be able to drive around and check general areas.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
I'm so sorry. I hope you locate him.

Do you have facebook? I know lots of people don't like it, but there are so many people that use it, a community page or lost pets group, or both would be good places to post. I would personally make an account just for that if you don't already use facebook.

Maybe you could put an AirTag on him when you find him? I've seen reviews on Amazon of holders put on the back end of tortoises. I don't think they work that far, but at least you'd be able to drive around and check general areas.
Yep, my mom has posted in a few groups about him. I actually tried a tile tracker on him two years ago, one that was made for outdoor use, but he actually managed to rub it off of his shell the last time he escaped, and a while after that it stopped working and the battery literally exploded. Maybe I'll try a tile tracker, though
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Just received quite the call. Just to spare people the panic I had to endure, this was most likely not Curtis. A woman called me to let me know that they had found my tortoise, but they weren't 100% sure. One problem, he had been hit by a car. I asked if he was alive, and they told me no, very much dead, and quite a mess. One drive to chick-fil-a later, no gruesome roadkill to be found, and the employees say that they didn't see anything. It was also over a mile away, and though the direction he was seen heading in, He would have had to walk along the road and go through multiple intersections for quite a while. They also said it was yesterday after I called them again, and I feel like animal control would have been notified and people would be mentioning it, and I called animal control to check.

Quite the heart attack.
Just got confirmation, it definitely was just a poor red ear slider. Not Curtis. phew.
 

Warren

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 24, 2019
Messages
1,721
Location (City and/or State)
Balto. MD
Just got confirmation, it definitely was just a poor red ear slider. Not Curtis. phew.
Sorry to hear about the red ear slider, but relieved to hear that there's still a chance to find Cutis. I have my fingers crossed, please keep us informed. I would be going nuts if something happened to my Sammy.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Very upset that I have to make my way back to college at 5 am tomorrow. Unfortunately I’m quite far away from home, so I can’t just come back to look after school. The main reason I wanted to come back in the first place was to see him. At least I came just in time to report him missing, I suppose.

More unfortunately, my grandfather is also doing very poorly, and he is going to pass soon. I don’t know him at all really, though. I wanted to spend my last few hours at home looking for Curtis and there’s a specific neighborhood he might be in that I want to put more fliers in, but we’re traveling to see my grandfather instead. Very unlucky that they happened to coincide.
 

SinLA

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Joined
Apr 19, 2022
Messages
1,937
Location (City and/or State)
Los Angeles
Very upset that I have to make my way back to college at 5 am tomorrow. Unfortunately I’m quite far away from home, so I can’t just come back to look after school. The main reason I wanted to come back in the first place was to see him. At least I came just in time to report him missing, I suppose.

More unfortunately, my grandfather is also doing very poorly, and he is going to pass soon. I don’t know him at all really, though. I wanted to spend my last few hours at home looking for Curtis and there’s a specific neighborhood he might be in that I want to put more fliers in, but we’re traveling to see my grandfather instead. Very unlucky that they happened to coincide.
I’m so sorry on all fronts…
 

KarenSoCal

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 8, 2017
Messages
5,749
Location (City and/or State)
Low desert 50 mi SE of Palm Springs CA
Oh my goodness! I am really saddened that you have to go through this, and like you said, timing isn't really on your side. I will be praying for you and Curtis. Please let us know as soon as you hear anything else about him. 🙏
🙏
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
Still no Curtis sightings, which I suppose is not the worst case scenario. Today we put out a $100 reward for his safe return and printed more posters, which my dad is putting out now.

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like I’ll have a ride home from college this weekend, but I’m trying really hard to get a bus to Dallas and have someone pick me up from there. It’s about 200 miles from here to home. I can’t get any of my work done or pay attention in any of my lectures until he’s found, so I’m really trying to get home and back to looking. He’s the whole reason I’m a Zoology major, so it makes sense that I need him happy and safe for me to do well : p

I’m sure Curtis is just happily grazing in a big patch of grass completely oblivious of his predicament.
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,655
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
So very sorry about this. Sorry, but yes your parents are to blame. If they can't take proper care of your animals and fix a fence then you need to find more reliable carrying caretakers. This is unacceptable. I could understand if he had broken the gate, fence and then got out. But them knowing about the problem and doing nothing, not even checking on him for days, sorry, that's neglect. Sorry to be harsh but your parents need to do much better.
Hope you get him back and unharmed.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
So very sorry about this. Sorry, but yes your parents are to blame. If they can't take proper care of your animals and fix a fence then you need to find more reliable carrying caretakers. This is unacceptable. I could understand if he had broken the gate, fence and then got out. But them knowing about the problem and doing nothing, not even checking on him for days, sorry, that's neglect. Sorry to be harsh but your parents need to do much better.
Hope you get him back and unharmed.
I completely agree, but they’re refusing to be blamed. Really, “we’re busy” is not an excuse when it takes maybe two minutes to go out and check on him. My sisters were perfectly capable too, but they don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation and somehow think it’s my fault for… going to college? That poor run over turtle wasn’t Curtis, but it easily could have been. I am seriously considering rehoming Curtis temporarily. I don’t know what I’ll do if we don’t find him.
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
If you're willing to pay, maybe you can find your own "Baker Street Irregulars" and pay some local friends/kids/etc to hunt for him?
I’ve been thinking about this too. I’m just not sure because we have a lot of copperheads in our area.
 

SinLA

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Joined
Apr 19, 2022
Messages
1,937
Location (City and/or State)
Los Angeles
Maybe there are "pest control" (ie" snake handlers) people who would take this as an oddball job? in any case hope you find him first, then can figure out options after...
 

TechnoCheese

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
4,505
Location (City and/or State)
Lewisville, Texas
If Curtis hasn’t been found by Saturday and I can get home and back by bus, some of my friends in the area are willing to come over and help search for him. I’m hoping we won’t have to, but it’s something, at least.
 
Top