Help please! (mom doesn't approve)

[emmalaub]

So I made a thread earlier about storage bin enclosures, but when I showed my mom one of the perfect size, she called it "ghetto" and "no way" she pointed to better looking ones, but they were way too small, so I suggest grabbing more than one and connecting them, so Gamera can have more space, she started to go on about how "dangerous it is" but I just wanted to show her this website, and she continues to believe the enclosure I have for him now is enough, which it is only 1.1/2 feet length and 1.1/2 width. She wants something cheap, but something good looking, and no cutting or anything. What the heck and I'm suppose to do, I feel so bad for my tortoise.. And I don't want him to keep living like this, I'm honestly suggesting selling him. Please help, what should I do or say to TRY to get her to listen to me.

 

[wellington]

I would let her know that animal neglect and abuse is against the law. That small of an enclosure is just that! Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I don't understand people when they think a tiny space is suitable for an animal, but they, themselves would live in such a small house. Ghetto is not taking care of an animal properly and a too small enclosure is not taking care of him properly and is ghetto.

 

[wellington]

Another idea, have you done a google search for tortoise enclosure? Maybe look through our enclosure section and also a google search, have her look with you. Maybe you will be able to find something that will work for the tort and she will like.

 

[emmalaub]

Thank you so much, I tried telling her that but them she called me "inconsiderate" I'm honestly out of ideas, I'm about to buy my own storage bins, go to my neighbors house and create a nice house for him. Right now I have him on my bed and I'm keeping a close eye on him so he can move around and have fun, also I let him roam around my yard with my supervision so he can have lots of room for some time. Since I can't currently get a job, I'm trying everything I can to raise money. @wellington. I looked at the happy tortoise enclosures but the shipping is so much money for them to get into the u.s, I'm honestly running out of ideas.

 

[emmalaub]

I put him back in his cage, he looks up at me with a sad (I think so..) look in his eye then goes under his hide, I feel so terrible! All I want is the best for him.

 

[wellington]

Sad that she thinks your being inconsiderate, when it's really her that is being that way. It's good that your getting him outside. At least he can get some exercise that way.
How about a plastic kiddie pool? They are only about 7 bucks give or take a bit. It could even be fixed for outside time for all day and then he could come in for just the nights and then the smaller enclosure wouldn't be quite so bad, if only for sleeping? Is the small enclosure glass? If so break it, then your mother would have to buy something else. Maybe you have a friend that would like to co-own the tort with you, he could stay at their house and hopefully they would have enough of a heart for an animal that they would give it a better home. It would still be partly yours to visit and you could help with food, and cleaning the enclosure?
Sorry for your situation, I really don't understand a person like your mother. Hopefully someone else will have some more ideas. Good luck.

 

[emmalaub]

I'm sending her a video

to show her that you can have a nice enclosure on a budget, and I think it doesn't look ghetto at all, and it looks like the tortoise likes it. I would like to have a kiddie pool because it's nice and spacious for the tortoise, but my mom is all about looks and she would hate it. None of my friends have the right things for a tortoise, I hope somehow I will reach out to her. She loves the tortoise too, but she didn't do any research at all and bought it for my birthday, then afterwards I did a lot of research and tried to show her, but I will keep trying, even if she starts yelling, because I love my tortoise and if worse comes to worse, I will give him to a good home. It's not glass, I know glass is very bad for tortoises, it's more of a rabbit cage with a High base sides, but it's still really small @wellington

 

[wellington]

Good luck, I hope it works.

 

[emmalaub]

Thanks, I'm going to need it. I've been looking through the enclosure section and I've been sending her screenshots of the nice, but nicely priced enclosures too, trying to give her the best of both worlds.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Here are three suggestions: go to Tractor Supply Company and buy a stock tank. Depending on the size of your tortoise, that should work fine. Functional, not expensive & nice looking.

Or: Get some elmers glue and cover the outside of the Rubbermaid tub with pretty (or acceptable looking) wrapping paper or fabric. Coat the outside with a thin wash of watered down glue to waterproof it.

Or: box in the Rubbermaid tub in some way.

Maybe you can get an old pallet for free and use the wood from it?

 

[emmalaub]

Thanks! Those are some cool ideas and I'll definally look Into it, you guys are the best : )

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Rubber sells great big tubs, and you could use pretty wire or wood from home depot to make it good looking! Good luck

 

[emmalaub]

Ugh, everytime I bring it up, she gets annoyed. I just want to grab money from my band account and pay for it myself, but she thinks I'm wasting it! Why can't she just understand...

 

[wellington]

Give it a rest for a while. Draw up a plan or several plans for an enclosure. Search for the cheap ideas for the base. Then, search for cheap or free ideas for making it look like it goes with the decor of whatever room it's in. Lay your plan out on paper and draw it up if you can. Then, tomorrow or the day after, present it to her. If she doesn't like it, ask what it is she doesn't like. Ask her for some suggestions of how you could improve it to her liking. Try working with her. Maybe even ask if there is anything you could do around the house to earn the money to make or buy the enclosure you want.
Don't give up, your tort deserves a better home, but don't hound her every second either.

 

[emmalaub]

Thanks, I'm already been drawing up a plan, I have a nice big corner in my room which would be perfect for him! I've stopped asking her and been going online for some ideas, I believe I have some money left over from my last birthday, so I'll help with the cost, I have everything but the enclosure, keep your fingers crossed : )

 

[wellington]

Just thought this up, a card board box could make a nice enclosure. You can go to most stores and get them for free. Line it with a cheap shower curtain liner, or even heavy duty garbage bags. You can creatively connect more then one together if you can't find one that is big enough. Decorate the outside with just about anything. Heck, if your really creative, you could make it look like a castle, doll (tort) house, even a large boat, or many other things. Maybe google card board box houses or something, to get some ideas she might like. Line up a few ideas to present to her all at the same time. Have details about each one and cost if you can. Then wait like I said in my last post above.

 

[emmalaub]

I have a really big one in my garage, it used to have a law mower in it.
And it is next to a washing machine for reference

Is it big enough?

 

[leigti]

Maybe try an old bookcase and take the shelves out and then put in a cheap shower curtain to line it with? Sometimes you can find these at garage sales or goodwill or other secondhand stores. And sometimes people just have them laying around and want to get rid of them check craigslist and ask your friends, it's surprising that people have stuff laying around they want to get rid of but don't have a place to take it too. And some of those bookshelves could look pretty nice and if they're a little banged up you can paint them to help the looks. Do you know anybody with carpentry skills that could help you build one for cheap? Sometimes you can get scrap lumber from building sites or used palettes etc. Just some ideas. Good luck and I hope she comes around soon. I know what it's like to want the best for my animals and have people think you're crazy or unrealistic etc. hang in there.

 

[wellington]

Well, it's bigger then what he's in now, right. You could always add onto it. Even a second level works too. It's a good start.

 

[emmalaub]

Thanks @leigti , that's actually an awesome idea, my neighbor is a great carpenter, so I could ask for his help, and a bookshelf since nice, plus my mother loves to paint, so I have plenty around, and I think with the shelves I take out I could build a safe second story with the help of my neighbor. @wellington yeah, it's much bigger, probably 3-4 times the size, and the original enclosure is 2 feet long (remeasured it), and with some creativity I can probably make a pretty second level, you guys are helping me so much, I'm so glad I found this site : )