I've seen this before in my 14 year old female sulcata. She had a bladder stone that had to be removed. Everything seemed fine. Then the resin they glued her plastron back together with broke open and the surgical site became infected. The vet put her on three antibiotics and kept her on them...
My big sulcata LOVES to be touched and pet. She won't even go to bed unless I sit beside her, and hug her, and give her a neck rub before I turn out the light. She will come find you to get back rubs in the day time.
You should always wash your hands no matter what or whom you touch, however, the myth of salmonella comes from aquatic terrapins that eat raw fish and sometimes birds. Not so much from vegetarian tortoises.
I live in Los Angeles and I totally believe nobody in Palmdale WOULD know what this tortoise is. Palmdale isn't a good part of town. LOL But yes, Yvonne is right. They're probably thinking it's a sulcata because of the shell colors, but the front two legs are a total giveaway. Anyway, you SHOULD...
My tortoise knows her name. She comes to me every time I call her, and knows quite a few English language phrases. I can tell her to look behind her, and she will. I can tell her to do a twirl and she will turn all the way around. I can tell her to come on, and she will walk beside me. She also...