What To Do About Pics Of Inappropriate Tortoise Practices?

Yvonne G

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My sully has been around my cats and dogs as well. What’s the harm if they don’t mind each other?
Here's the harm (I've told this story before, but it bears repeating):

Mildred, an adult desert tortoise, lived with this older couple happily roaming the backyard and living in peace. One day the couple got a labrador pup. The pup shared Mildred's yard and they lived there together for 15 years. One summer the older couple went away on vacation and their grown son came over every so often to gather the mail, check the animals, water the plants. When the couple got home they found Mildred with one of her front legs chewed totally off, clear up to the shoulder.
 
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Kennabear914

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Here's the harm (I've told this story before, but it bears repeating):

Mildred, and adult desert tortoise, lived with this older couple happily roaming the backyard and living in peace. One day the couple got a labrador pup. The pup shared Mildred's yard and they lived there together for 15 years. One summer the older couple went away on vacation and their grown son came over every so often to gather the mail, check the animals, water the plants. When the couple got home they found Mildred with one of her front legs chewed totally off, clear up to the shoulder.

Omg that is horrible! I understand the danger in that sense but i’d never leave them alone together, always with supervision. They usually only see each other when I take Ollie out of his enclosure and let him roam around a little, but I only let him do that under supervision so
 

terryo

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On Instagram there was a picture posted of a box turtle who was either chewed up or hit by a car...don't remember. The turtles shell was screwed together with these big screws...a couple on the top and 4 underneat . Then a wire was twisted around these big screws to hold the shell together. I was sick looking at it, but I didn't say anything. A while back I commented on something else this person did and I got a lot of backlash. Now if I see a situation that won't make a difference, no matter what I say, I just keep quiet.
 

Benjtort

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While y’all are talking about tortoises eating fruit mine just sits there like we don’t like fruit:):p
 

LoutheRussian

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I joined this forum five or so years ago when I rescued/inherited my
Ex girlfriends Russian. When she left him at my house he was in a small cardboard box and nothing else. I had no idea what I was doing so I cut connected several other boxes together just to give him more space. If I hadn't stumbled across TFO I'd have been lost and Lou would have suffered for it. I asked a lot of questions some of which I get silly for not knowing any answer to. Everyone and I mean everyone was incredibly helpful and gently guided me through my beginning fazes of tort ownership. Everything from his enclosure, heat lamps, UV info down to his diet I was given suggestions corrections and when I needed it a firm and direct check of what I was doing wrong that could potentially bring harm to my tortoise. I was between jobs and broke at the time and one member even sent me a link to a $50 gift card to a tort supply store. I have learned so much from so many of the members here. I've seen people come on strong when correcting people and I've seen it gently put. I've seen positive and negative reactions to both approaches. I don't think there is a clear cut way to address those people we see doing things that aren't in the torts best interests but I have seen when the op gets defensive about things the people correcting them will often keep coming at them which continues to raise their walls. In my opinion when someone does not respond well to advise given then after one or two posts explaining why what they are doing is wrong then it may be time to tell them that you were only trying to help and that you suggest not just taking your word for it but to search the forum and read other similar posts. I know when I do that it leads me down a TFO rabbit hole where I've read and learned things I never would have known. I'm still a "newer" tort owner but I have gained so much knowledge from this forum that I have found myself able to help others and pass on advice here and in other groups I belong to.
 

Loni

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I am an absolute newbie and have been working my way through all of the forums here since I found you and the knowledge shared here is amazing and appreciated.

Personally, I do not have thin skin and if I am putting my tort at risk please feel free to roll up a magazine and smack me upside the head. Public is fine. If someone else can learn from it as well...perfect. I will be posting a lot of pictures and descriptions here as I am concerned that the prevailing recommendation is for newbies to not purchase hatchlings. In western Canada there is not an option to purchase older animals that I have found so I will be actively seeking guidance.

However, generally speaking, people need to feel approval balanced with constructive criticism. If the only responses they ever get are negative, they are going to feel unwelcome and leave. I try to find something to praise, question the dangerous behaviour and offer clear reasons for my questioning the practice, not the person.
 

ZEROPILOT

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I've grown numb to repeating suggestions meant to help and then being "corrected" by the O.P.
I thank members such as @Tom for the replies that keep trying to help, over and over again.
Some new members take offense and leave the forum. But clearly, some are also helped.
That's the best that we can hope for.
 

Morty'sMamma

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I think it should be pointed it. Some people know the risks and still take them.
While others do it out of ignorance. Once they are informed they can then take the risk if so desired. I like how straight forward @Tom is, some people may not. But the intention is always good. I would rather someone be straight forward with me or "harsh" if it means that my animals will benefit from it, some don't like constructive criticism.

"Don't regret what you have done, regret what you should have done"
Straightforward is great but I think harsh is a little different. I think it’s important to let owners/keepers know how to properly care for their pets. It’s also important to let them know if they are placing them in harms way. An ounce of prevention.....
 

wellington

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I've grown numb to repeating suggestions meant to help and then being "corrected" by the O.P.
I thank members such as @Tom for the replies that keep trying to help, over and over again.
Some new members take offense and leave the forum. But clearly, some are also helped.
That's the best that we can hope for.[/QUOTE
Like Tom I'm straight forward. Care more for the voiceless animal then the human. I have gotten more thank you's then kiss offs. In my experience with correcting people face too face, they don't like my delivery but they learned a lot and it saved an animal and with an embarrassed posture they apologized for their behavior. I think the same happens here, except they can hide behind their computer and we can't see their embarrassment or guilt. So, they just get defensive and push back. However, I would bet everything they are changing things and lurking too learn more of the wrong they are doing. They just don't have too face us in person so they/some don't feel the need to apologize.
 

TechnoCheese

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I actually have the three-set of Sulcata info and Russian Care Sheet+Beginner Mistakes saves to my “text replacement”

IMG_1529535909.101286.jpg
IMG_1529535931.910450.jpg
Because who has time to copy and paste each individual link?
 

TriciaStringer

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Proverbs 12:15
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
 

drew54

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How did I miss this thread?! This is essentially what my recent post was about.

You could always post a pic of a dead tort vs a live healthy tort with captions that say "your way" and "the right way" in response to angry people and then they can choose. A bit harsh I know.
 

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