I’d like to hear the stories of people about when turtles or tortoises came into their lives. For me...it started at 5 years old. We lived about 15 miles south of Washington DC and was pretty much rural ( although changing fast). The lot next to our home was used by a farmer to grow produce for market. Playing in my back yard I would occasionally hear a thud...but didn’t at first know what was causing it. I soon found out the farmer...when he would find a box turtle...would throw them against trees...killing them. This upset me pretty bad...so I told dad. He went over and talked with the farmer and asked if he would just give me any box turtle he found. The farmer agreed. Dad built a big outdoor pen for them about 10’ x 30’ around an area with trees, bushes and tall grass. Later...the farmer was talking to my dad and said it would be alright if I came over to his lot..if I was careful of his crops...and search for box turtles. Some might not believe this...but I could smell box turtles hiding in thick brush. The farmer was thankful for my help and would give me veggies that were still good but not marketable because of bird or squirrel damage...to feed to the boxies. We moved when I was 7 and dad and I took the boxies ( probably around 15) to a nearby park and released them. The farmer died not too long after...and the lot was razed to put a home on.
Where did it all start?
- Thread starter Skip K
- Start date
Box Turtle Tuesday
Member
Umm well I got introduced to turtles about 5 years ago at the county zoo. They had an ornate box turtle. I started to do research and ended up finding a captive bred and one.
I never wanted a tortoise, had no interest in them or any reptiles at all - until almost 7 years ago.
A colleague had found a large tortoise in a field near her home, took it home and spent 3 weeks trying to find its owner with no luck. She couldn't keep it and asked me if I knew anyone who wanted a tortoise or it was destined for a rescue centre/sanctuary.
I asked my animal mad sister who lives about 150 miles way and she jumped at the chance. So the tortoise came home to my 'half way house' to stay until I could pass the tortoise on to her or find the owner myself. I joined TFO, because obviously the tort needed to be looked after properly while he was in my care, and I went about buying the basics for him and set him up in a room of his own for his 'short' stay.
After about a week my sister rang to say that unfortunately she couldn't take the tort after all because her hubby was ill and wouldn't be able to sort out the heated shed she had planned. It was just bad timing.
So there I was stuck with an animal I would never have chosen and had no idea about how to look after, but in that week this strange creature had wormed his way into my affections and I decided that I would try to do my best for him in spite of realising it would mean a lot of expense and hard work to get things right.
I always say that Lola adopted me; he certainly changed my life - not always for the better because he can be a tie - but he rules the roost - and I wouldn't be without him now. Thank goodness for TFO and its members who have helped me give Lola the best life possible.
A colleague had found a large tortoise in a field near her home, took it home and spent 3 weeks trying to find its owner with no luck. She couldn't keep it and asked me if I knew anyone who wanted a tortoise or it was destined for a rescue centre/sanctuary.
I asked my animal mad sister who lives about 150 miles way and she jumped at the chance. So the tortoise came home to my 'half way house' to stay until I could pass the tortoise on to her or find the owner myself. I joined TFO, because obviously the tort needed to be looked after properly while he was in my care, and I went about buying the basics for him and set him up in a room of his own for his 'short' stay.
After about a week my sister rang to say that unfortunately she couldn't take the tort after all because her hubby was ill and wouldn't be able to sort out the heated shed she had planned. It was just bad timing.
So there I was stuck with an animal I would never have chosen and had no idea about how to look after, but in that week this strange creature had wormed his way into my affections and I decided that I would try to do my best for him in spite of realising it would mean a lot of expense and hard work to get things right.
I always say that Lola adopted me; he certainly changed my life - not always for the better because he can be a tie - but he rules the roost - and I wouldn't be without him now. Thank goodness for TFO and its members who have helped me give Lola the best life possible.
I rescued a mistreated red eared slider from one of my cousins who wasn't caring for him correctly! I saw that he never fed Spike live prey, so I asked if I could have him. And he just handed him over! I had a great bond with that turtle. It was very outgoing! But it died in an accident, because I was a bad owner.
Later I rescued a petco russian tortoise that I cared for improperly. I'm so glad I found this online community before buying my redfoots. They have much better lives than any of my childhood pets, that's for sure.
Later I rescued a petco russian tortoise that I cared for improperly. I'm so glad I found this online community before buying my redfoots. They have much better lives than any of my childhood pets, that's for sure.
I hear ya. We rescued 2 Russians from a pet store too. They looked dead. Not moving...eyes sunken...dried out...in a small aquarium under hot lights. We got them for cheap...thinking I could “save” them with proper husbandry. There was no improvement. We were lucky to have at that time...an exceptionally knowledgeable and famous in many circles...vet with extensive exotics experience. She did an exam and fecal study...and told me the prognosis wasn’t good. They were old, imported tortoises that had massive parasite loads...coupled with the importation stress...badly underweight and dehydrated. She wanted me to know she would do everything she could but there would be costs and that I needed to be prepared for the worst case scenario. She had them for over a week...treating them at work...then taking them home..for round the clock care ( which she did for many owners pets). But they still passed away. She gave me a reduced bill and the pet shop ended up paying the rest
