Orange County, emergency adoption of Desert Tortoise

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
I’m on the r/tortoise subreddit on Reddit and someone has just posted this about a Desert Tortoise in bad need of rescue.

Need help re-homing an abused desert tortoise; please read

Recently my brother became homeless and was no longer able to care for his desert tortoise. My brother did a lot of drugs, and was at times caught being very questionable in regards to physically abusing his tortoise, caught once on a security camera trying to drown it. I felt so bad for this tortoise and always tried to help it, I just never knew how.

I like in a small apartment with THREE cats, and it’s no longer a realistic goal to try and have the animals coexist, my cats are obsessed with trying to get it.

I live in California and can’t find many resources or places I would be able to take it. It’s about 5 years old and was living on moldy t-shirts when he gave it to me so I don’t know if it has any illnesses :(

Any advice or links or people willing to help welcome

I’m in California but not close enough to Orange County and unable to rescue myself so I’m posting here to see if anyone else is capable of helping.

Thanks so much!

Reddit Post
 

Chefdenoel10

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2018
Messages
3,162
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
I’m on the r/tortoise subreddit on Reddit and someone has just posted this about a Desert Tortoise in bad need of rescue.

Need help re-homing an abused desert tortoise; please read

Recently my brother became homeless and was no longer able to care for his desert tortoise. My brother did a lot of drugs, and was at times caught being very questionable in regards to physically abusing his tortoise, caught once on a security camera trying to drown it. I felt so bad for this tortoise and always tried to help it, I just never knew how.

I like in a small apartment with THREE cats, and it’s no longer a realistic goal to try and have the animals coexist, my cats are obsessed with trying to get it.

I live in California and can’t find many resources or places I would be able to take it. It’s about 5 years old and was living on moldy t-shirts when he gave it to me so I don’t know if it has any illnesses :(


Any advice or links or people willing to help welcome

I’m in California but not close enough to Orange County and unable to rescue myself so I’m posting here to see if anyone else is capable of helping.

Thanks so much!

Reddit Post


Omg!!! Don’t go away!
Someone on here will help..
I am too far away but there are many people closer to where you are that may have an answer for you.
@Tom
@Yvonne G
@Toddrickfl1
@maggie3fan
@Markw84

sorry guys.. but I needed to find this person help! Or I couldn’t sleep knowing the poor tortoise is in need of care and rescue.
 

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
Omg!!! Don’t go away!
Someone on here will help..
I am too far away but there are many people closer to where you are that may have an answer for you.
@Tom
@Yvonne G
@Toddrickfl1
@maggie3fan
@Markw84

sorry guys.. but I needed to find this person help! Or I couldn’t sleep knowing the poor tortoise is in need of care and rescue.
Thanks so much! There has been at least one reply on the original post from someone nearby.
 

Maggie3fan

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Messages
8,046
Location (City and/or State)
PacificNorthWest
The California Turtle and Tortoise Club.will take it, but ya gotta call them.Yvonne will get you the phone numbers and how to's will answer soon. So I am sure one of those people we've called will help soon. First of all, calm down as help is coming. please tell them to give this tort a warm soak while we are waiting remembering that is a tortoise not a water turtle, warm like a babies bath. Is it possible to take a picture and post it here? That would help in the decision making. Hang in
 

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
Have the person who has the tortoise contact the CTTC chapter that is the closest. CTTC is California Turtle and Tortoise Club. They are statewide and will help the tortoise.

I’m not sure they can help, I was sent to this forum by them because they told me they aren’t able to take in any more tortoises and to try people on this forum.
 

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
The California Turtle and Tortoise Club.will take it, but ya gotta call them.Yvonne will get you the phone numbers and how to's will answer soon. So I am sure one of those people we've called will help soon. First of all, calm down as help is coming. please tell them to give this tort a warm soak while we are waiting remembering that is a tortoise not a water turtle, warm like a babies bath. Is it possible to take a picture and post it here? That would help in the decision making. Hang in
I’m calm :)

The tortoise club in this area is too overloaded and can’t take on more. They have already informed me of that recently and sent me to this forum to find homes for my own tortoises.

There is a desert tortoise sanctuary near Joshua tree but I’m not 100% on the species yet. I’ll see if I can get a picture from the guy.
 

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
Welp... I’ve continued to keep watch on the original post and also had a private chat going with the poster, but now their account seems to have been deleted. I’m hoping it got figured out. There was another person talking with them on Reddit, I’ll try messaging them to see if they were able to help.

Thanks so much to all of you who showed concern and did what they could to help!
 

harris182

New Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Messages
1
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego
I’m on the r/tortoise subreddit on Reddit and someone has just posted this about a Desert Tortoise in bad need of rescue.

Need help re-homing an abused desert tortoise; please read

Recently my brother became homeless and was no longer able to care for his desert tortoise. My brother did a lot of drugs, and was at times caught being very questionable in regards to physically abusing his tortoise, caught once on a security camera trying to drown it. I felt so bad for this tortoise and always tried to help it, I just never knew how.

I like in a small apartment with THREE cats, and it’s no longer a realistic goal to try and have the animals coexist, my cats are obsessed with trying to get it.

I live in California and can’t find many resources or places I would be able to take it. It’s about 5 years old and was living on moldy t-shirts when he gave it to me so I don’t know if it has any illnesses :(


Any advice or links or people willing to help welcome

I’m in California but not close enough to Orange County and unable to rescue myself so I’m posting here to see if anyone else is capable of helping.

Thanks so much!

Reddit Post
Hello,

Do you have any images of the tortoise? Does he have any known injuries or illnesses? I live in San Diego and have room in my garden to support him.
 

RabbitSide

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
22
Location (City and/or State)
Niland, CA
Hello,

Do you have any images of the tortoise? Does he have any known injuries or illnesses? I live in San Diego and have room in my garden to support him.
It seems the person has dropped off of Reddit. I’ve been told by the other person that was offering to take the tort that the original poster is now giving the tort to their dad possibly... unfortunately I don’t know any more than that. I hope that it ends up in a safe home.
 

gurgleblaster

Member
Joined
May 19, 2020
Messages
66
Location (City and/or State)
Charlotte
If someone can get a hold of the tortoise in question and ship. I have plenty of space for more torts and am always willing to help out. Also have a great reptile specialist rescue facility locally that can look at it for any veterinary care.
 

New Posts

Top