The what if game

AbbyLee22

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With a heavy heart I write this, my poor Jesse was taken from our yard. Earlier this week we had a nice warm day finally and I put Jesse out in her new yard my husband built for her this winter. It was a bricked section of yard 8 ft tall (to match the other section of yard that keeps the boxer in) with it buried 2 ft down. The gated part was made by my dad and he made the bars close together and even welded on a grate 3 ft up to keep the ferrets in if they ever get loose in the yard. Anyhow, I put her out for a few hours of sun and went to run some errands and when I returned she was gone. She is 7-8in and about 2.5 lbs.

This was almost a week ago and I have out up flyers, called vets and local pet shops, talked to neighbors. No sign of her. Now I am playing the what if game....
What if a neighbor kid walked off with her 'hey look what I found mom'....
What if a bird took her (not as likely with what we have around here)....
What if a large dog hopped the fence....

I am just heart broken and really hope she is in someone's hands and that person will research and care for her like I did. :'(
 

AbbyLee22

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We don't have very big Hawks here but the crows are bigger. Still even a 2 lb tort I would think would be hard to hold onto. I had a hard time holding her and I have thumbs. But who knows... Again with the what if
 

WithLisa

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Still even a 2 lb tort I would think would be hard to hold onto. I had a hard time holding her and I have thumbs.
It's not impossible for a big bird. I guess they would not try to hold onto the shell, that would be too difficult, but just grab a leg.
Still, a human thief seems much more likely to me.

I'm very sorry for you, but don't give up hope yet. :(
 

leigti

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Unfortunately I think a human may be to blame. have you double checked the entire yard, looking for places that she may have dug out or under or maybe hiding in? it is amazing how they can hide sometimes. keep looking, look on your local craigslist and in the paper for ads for a tortoise. keep in touch with the vets and animal control to be on the lookout. I hope you find her soon.
 

naturalman91

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ah i'm sorry this happened i'd keep my eye on craigslist and continue doing what you are it's much more possible a neighborhood kid got it it's happened a couple times i've read about here
 

Yellow Turtle01

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I'm sorry! :( Lost tortoises can be hard to find, but I wish you the best! I agree, maybe try door to door?
 

AbbyLee22

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Did a bit of door to door with the closer neighbors this weekend. Will be calling local vets again and the pet shops too
 

Momof4

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So sorry! Did any neighbors know who had a tortoise? Just wondering because 8ft is hard to see over especially bricked. Do you have landscapers or pool guy? I really hope you get him back!!
 

Jacqui

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Could still be out in the yard, don't give up completely on that yet. Sometimes those guys can just become invisible I swear. Be sure to be on your hands and knees, looking especially under plant clumps. Also feel along the wall edges to see if there are any open spaces. :( Jesse is the leopard in the avatar of yours? At that size, I am not thinking it is likely a bird and with the height of the fence, not thinking a dog either.
 

dmmj

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Not to be to graphic, but an animal prob. would have left evidence behind, crows/ravens don't tend to carry off, they peck the animal to death. I imagine theft ( sucks people do), escape, or might still be in the yard. Either way, sorry to hear, hoping for a good outcome.
 

AbbyLee22

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Momof4 A few neighbors knew about him, we have asked them and are good enough friends (and at their house often enough) that I can't imagine it was them. No other 'service guys' come around. BUT the way the tort yard is someone who walked over to our front door could have looked inside and be able to see her. The gate was not locked (and I am STILL kicking myself for that...)

Jacqui Yes, that is Jesse in the avatar. She is about 2 lbs and 7-8 inches and I agree too big for an animal to easily carry off. Not without a fight like dmmj pointed out. Which honestly, makes me feel better. I much rather have her in someone's hands than a birds belly :/ And I was thinking the SAME thing, that there would have been a sign of a struggle if something tried to eat her. There really isn't a way for her to escape, the fence was built to hold specifically her. I have looked for her almost every day, but I don't give up hope. I will try the hands and knees thing. Would a leopard dig deep enough to bury herself? I was just under the impression that they were not really diggers... And I did look for ground that appeared to be unsettled, but I will keep looking. Also, we have been getting cold temps. If she is still out there, even burred, could she have survived?? The day temps were in the 60-70, but it got in the mid 20s overnight.
 

wellington

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So sorry. Keep checking every morning when the sun comes out. They really can hide themselves if they want too. They blend in really well. Keep checking for her to be basking in the sun. I lost mine a couple times in his enclosure he hid himself so well. Keep us posted and check your areas Craig's list
 

Yvonne G

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They don't dig, but they blend in very well under a bush and in the tall grass.
 

Tom

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Show us some pics of the pen and the yard. We might have some ideas. Theft is certainly possible, but most of the time "missing" tortoises are just hiding tortoises. I can't count how many times I thought one was stolen only to find it hiding later in an area where I had looked thoroughly.
 

Jacqui

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they don't what I would call dig in. It's more like they seep in. Lol normally under plant masses or gentle ground crevasses.
 

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