Turtle Rescue

Andy doesn’t go out and come back with a stray kitten like normal people. Oh no, he has to come back with a turtle!!

On his way back from the shops a couple of days ago, Andy came across what he thought was a tortoise by the side of the road. He thought this was unusual, picked it up and brought it home. I was using my traction unit for my back at the time and he brought it upstairs saying he’d found it by the side of the road and didn’t know what to do. I sat up from my unit so quickly that my neck nearly snapped and came face to face with a reptile. After recognising Andy, I spotted the creature he was holding and it spotted me. We looked on the Internet at tortoise websites and found that France does have native tortoises but not in this area and not looking like this one. On closer inspection of the animal, it dawned on me that it looked very much like a terrapin I had as a child only much bigger. Sure enough, after some more researching, it seems that it is a red-eared terrapin. This type is readily available at pet shops, where lots of people buy them not realising how big they are going to get. The inevitable then happens and the once adored exotic pet turns into a large inconvenience. So this poor turtle had been kicked out and left by the side of the road in 37-degree heat. How can people do that?

So now we are in a tricky position. We have been trying to contact animal and reptile re-homing organisations but so far have had no luck. There has either been no response or the places don’t take ‘that kind’ of turtle. He/she is living in the bath in the spare room, which is nowhere near the ideal situation, especially with my parents arriving on Monday, but it is the best we can do at the moment. He is very shy and the only thing he will eat is strawberries.

I have been suggesting to Andy that we should get a big tank and keep him and if we can’t find anywhere else to have him then we may have to. Since we moved to France we have saved an owl and given an unruly abandoned goat a nice home. Is the turtle going to be the latest resident in La Farge Animal Rescue?

Comments

[Eve Mazery]

You make my week every time I log on to your Blog!! Only 16 more sleeps and I am on my way!!