Russian With Serious Foot Issues

[EppsDynasty]

We received our newest Member yesterday and she is a Heartbreaker. The story we have goes like this .......
A young couple moved into their new house and in the backyard there was a Tortoise. The tort was in an area less than 2'x2' .... yes that's only an area less than 4 square feet ... with a plastic fence of some type and no real anything ... House .. Nope, Food .. Nope, Water .. Nope .. ya get the point. We have no idea of how long she suffered in this Tortuous way, in an enclosure that must of felt like HELL for her. I can only imagine by looking at her feet she spent all day everyday trying to save her own life by clawing, scratching and getting out of a certain Death. With help from relatives we were able to get her to us yesterday and when I saw her eyes it just about brought me to tears. For those of you that know Jo Jo, it was a rush of feelings like when we first started taking care of her. For those of you that don't know about Jo Jo lookup "White Flesh" in the Desert Tort section. We immediately put her on Coco Coir to give some relief for what must be painful, it was the softest thing I could think of.


Yes I know those are some messed up hands, I spend my days doing things with my hands not my mouth ... I'm a doer not a talker.

We allowed her to settle down a bit yesterday by completely covering up her Plastic Tub with a blanket and only opening a small corner. Today is Soak, Clean with Chlorhexidine and then offer some food. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, as well as anyone seen this type of injury before? Back feet are fine no issues or abrasions. No name yet but one will come to us, if you think of one let us know. She will always hold a special piece of our hearts, she must of had a rough life void of anything like Love or compassion.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's going to be difficult for you to provide a large enough indoor space for her . ... you don't want her to brumate this winter. And bear in mind she's still going to want to escape to try to find her home turf. Normally I would suggest leaving the feet alone but because she's going to continue to dig to escape it would be a good idea to 'doctor' the feet then try to figure out a way to cover them to allow healing. The medical industry has made great strides in the adhesive department. I'm sure you can find tape that will stick good to CLEAN skin.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Looks like there is close to nothing left of the nails, is that right? I can't even imagine the stress she went through.

 

[EppsDynasty]

Forgot to post this pic, it warmed our hearts.


This winter will be a tough but we will do everything to try and provide her with security and comfort. We are thinking the same thing as you are @Yvonne G .... that makes us feel better that we're on the same page as you are. My thoughts were yes it's going to be a little small but make her an indoor enclosure that she can feel secure in and know it's hers and not going to change. Just to try and give her some sense of normality.

@The_Four_Toed_Edward four_toed ... it is so hard to imagine the amount of stress, fear, and terror she must of felt everyday for no telling how long.

The covering her up has worked, she has stopped the frantic clawing and attempt to escape. Today will be the first day of hopefully many days of LOVE. The thoughts that came to mind immediately was @zolasmum and how Zola Loves lap time. I think I will make attempts to hold her (in a blanket) to try and show her that she is in loving hands and give her a sense of the opposite of fear.

 

[EppsDynasty]

Here’s the other foot

 

[Ink]

Percy, short for perseverance. That is one tough girl. That name came to mind.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

My name ideas:

• Valeria from the Latin verb meaning "to be strong".
• Matilda, meaning strength in battle, this name has Germanic roots.
• Another Germanic name is Willa, which means a strong willed warrior. A feminine version of the name William.
• Nadine is a Slavic name meaning hope.

 

[SinLA]

I was going to recommend Stump. Sounds harsh but there is something about embracing your challenges to move past them. That said Percy is also nice in this case!

Either way thank you for taking her!

 

[Anastasia 22]

Fenix - risen from ashes.
Thank you for taking her!!!! I hope she will recover with YOUR help.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Her story is heartbreaking!
I’m so glad she’s made her way to you!

Love the name suggestions so far! I’m throwing ‘Emela’ into the mix, Bosnian origin, meaning ‘hope’ & ‘inspiration’

Or

‘Oriana’ from Latin translates to “a new dawn” for the hopeful feeling of a new beginning

 

[TammyJ]

It seems to me that her feet may have been chewed by a rat. She might need antibiotics. Then make sure the feet are clean and cover them with some kind of antibiotic cream like Neosporin and maybe gauze and Velcro. But hey, you guys are the greatest when it comes to innovation! Make her some little boots with wheels...but what if she swallows them...??? You will figure it out. So glad she is with you now. Keep us updated!

 

[zolasmum]

Forgot to post this pic, it warmed our hearts.
View attachment 383514

This winter will be a tough but we will do everything to try and provide her with security and comfort. We are thinking the same thing as you are @Yvonne G .... that makes us feel better that we're on the same page as you are. My thoughts were yes it's going to be a little small but make her an indoor enclosure that she can feel secure in and know it's hers and not going to change. Just to try and give her some sense of normality.

@The_Four_Toed_Edward four_toed ... it is so hard to imagine the amount of stress, fear, and terror she must of felt everyday for no telling how long.

The covering her up has worked, she has stopped the frantic clawing and attempt to escape. Today will be the first day of hopefully many days of LOVE. The thoughts that came to mind immediately was @zolasmum and how Zola Loves lap time. I think I will make attempts to hold her (in a blanket) to try and show her that she is in loving hands and give her a sense of the opposite of fear.

Poor poor little darling - I think you might be right that holding her very gently and firmly might calm and soothe her, but it will probably take a good while, after all that time she has obviously existed in a frenzy of fear. I wish I lived near you, and could sit and hold and gently stroke her all day ! I'm so very glad she has come to you - please keep us informed about her progress. How can anyone have been so cruel to leave her like that ! ! !
Angie

 

[Maggie3fan]

Forgot to post this pic, it warmed our hearts.
View attachment 383514

This winter will be a tough but we will do everything to try and provide her with security and comfort. We are thinking the same thing as you are @Yvonne G .... that makes us feel better that we're on the same page as you are. My thoughts were yes it's going to be a little small but make her an indoor enclosure that she can feel secure in and know it's hers and not going to change. Just to try and give her some sense of normality.

@The_Four_Toed_Edward four_toed ... it is so hard to imagine the amount of stress, fear, and terror she must of felt everyday for no telling how long.

The covering her up has worked, she has stopped the frantic clawing and attempt to escape. Today will be the first day of hopefully many days of LOVE. The thoughts that came to mind immediately was @zolasmum and how Zola Loves lap time. I think I will make attempts to hold her (in a blanket) to try and show her that she is in loving hands and give her a sense of the opposite of fear.

Just my opinion...but I wouldn't try to mess with her at all for a few days, otherwise you will be the giant predator holding her captive...Personally, I would win her over with food....let her relax and get used to you and her new place...

 

[COmtnLady]

There is some stuff called "Liquid Bandage". I don't know if its tortoise-safe, though. You just "paint it on" and it makes a sealed covering. If the wound needs ointment, this wouldn't be good to use because it wouldn't really seal over an oil-based covering.

 

[EppsDynasty]

Percy, short for perseverance. That is one tough girl. That name came to mind.

PERCY it shall be !!!
Happy Wife Happy Life .... immediately my wife and daughter said "That's It .... That's It, Percy is her name" So that will be it. If you don't mind though we WILL be taking these names given, in our rescue we come across some torts that need a 'Strong' name. You guys surpassed my expectations on the names and I Thank You so much.

I was going to recommend Stump

Actually the young couple named her "Stumpy' not knowing if she was a boy or girl. We have a thing where if the tort had a bad life, it HAS to get a new name, New life new name.

I wish I lived near you

So do I ... Or I lived near you. I think I could do England. A good jacket, Umbrella and of course a Garden would do it, then of course the Torts and Turtles. Your Loving touch would be such a comfort to her .... I'm with you, what the Heck were the people doing, thinking, or not thinking I guess. Pure Torture she has lived through, to rub off her feet, it must have been just Terrible.

Just my opinion...but I wouldn't try to mess with her at all for a few days, otherwise you will be the giant predator holding her captive...Personally, I would win her over with food....let her relax and get used to you and her new place...

I think your opinion is right on target!
With a blanket over the Tote she calms pretty fast and is perfectly content with just burying herself in the corner with Coco Coir. I think we are going to initiate the 1 month Plan .... For 1 month we will have very limited time with her being able to see us and do just as you said. Yesterday she started to eat ... (O Yeah ... O Yeah) ... She smelled my hand then started to eat. We will let her know we are there slowly and get her to relate us with food. I want to fix it all in 5 minutes ... but we all know nothing happens fast with a Tortoise. To think of all the people and all the ways I've tried to be taught patience and it just toke Torts to do it. She is so precious and fragile I have no chance if it is not done patiently.

 

[SinLA]

Actually the young couple named her "Stumpy' not knowing if she was a boy or girl. We have a thing where if the tort had a bad life, it HAS to get a new name, New life new name.

I love that!

 

[SinLA]

I also wonder if rodents are to blame as well...

 

[EppsDynasty]

I also wonder if rodents are to blame as well...

I will try to get some better picks, it looks like they were just ground off. The pain must have been less than the Fear she was experiencing.

 

[zolasmum]

I will try to get some better picks, it looks like they were just ground off. The pain must have been less than the Fear she was experiencing.

I've been thinking about little Percy a lot - you said you had managed to get her to eat a bit yesterday - has she eaten any more today? And is she showing any signs of being settled? I just can't get my head round how anyone could have just left her like that - there must have been a reason they put her there - and knowing she was in there, how could they possibly leave her - some people just don't deserve to be considered human !
Angie

 

[TammyJ]

Maybe when it's healed up, you guys can make her some little prosthetic "feet" with claws so she can dig!