REWARD - MISSING RADIATED SUBADULT - LAKE WORTH, FL (now FOUND!!)

Pearly

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Hello, Concerned Friends!

To clarify - LaBella is my hand-sized 5 year old radiated tortoise - and missing.

BigGirl - I just sent a picture for everyone's enjoyment, not to confuse - is my 25 year old Aldabra.

I immediately reported LaBella stolen to the Lake Worth Police. Have done pet shops, vets, posted flyers, talked to neighbors, tortoiseforum.org, craigslist lost and found, animal care & control, busch wildlife sanctuary, etc. I DO speak to her out loud when I'm out and about in the neighborhood, walking my dogs, etc. I'm not "above" that. I was thinking about Channel 5, but I'm not certain I want a camera in my back yard??? Have installed new security system and cameras (expensive ones)...are going up in a couple days.

If y'all can think of any MORE stones I can overturn, I'm open to it! I'm well-connected in the reptile community for 20 years + and have people who are talking to people who are talking to people. I must say, tortoise forum has SO many hits, it's got to be the best connection yet.

Keep talking to me, people...you're AWESOME!

I completely understand that she can...

A) Never show up
B) Show up in 5 minutes
C) Show up in a year

I'm in this for the long haul.

PATTY
I know I must sound like some kind of a flake here in this community of "science buffs" but you know, this World if full of things unexplained. We all know that our human senses are not always that reliable. That dogs' noses, owl's night vision, etc are so much more sophisticated than ours that we tend to rely on. But we humans have something that surpasses them all, our faith and hope. You little LaBella despite of her bright coloration is small. I'm thinking she may still be there somewhere nearby where you last saw her. When I lost my Tucker he was only about 3-4" carapace. I recall some of our members here tell me to get down on my 4's and look at the ground level. Are there any taller grasses? Or loose soil that she could have dug herself in? I was ready to start pulling all my perennial flowers out of the flowerbed where I lost Tucker. Do your night temps drop below 80F? If so maybe try putting out heat source where she was last seen and turn it on at night see if she comes to the warmth. I know all this sound crazy. But I did all that for 4 weeks in Texas - February hoping against everyone around me being so convinced I'd never see Tucker again. And yes, I was scared I wouldn't see him again but kept plowing through every day with my routine of taking fresh food/water out, checking his bedding under the lamps I make for him, keeping the 200 watts worth of heat lamps going out in the open (my husband extremely unhappy about that one! but that's probably what had ultimately kept Tucker alive all that time), so Patty, do not give up hope! Keep looking. Maybe start very gently raking/combing through the grass/lawn if that's where she went missing. Enlist help of all your praying friends and have them pray about this... keep LaBella close to your heart. I am joining you in your hope/prayer/meditation with the intent of finding your little LaBella
 
Last edited:

teresaf

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If she got loose and you have any chance of seeing her again it'll be during the time of the day that she was most active. Probably 9am-12pm and 6pm-8pm. That's when you should be out there looking.
 

Slow and steady

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Patty, I'm sure you would have updated us if you'd have found her. I just wanted to share with you that lost tortoises can be found. Last year my 14 y/o leopard was discovered 2 1/2 miles away from my house after 35 days of being on the lam. You're doing all the right things, just stay positive. It is still completely possible to get her back.
Just a thought: It looks like you have multiple torts. If it were a theft, why would someone take only one? Maybe it's not a theft? I work in Lake Worth from time to time. Some of the homes there have crawl spaces under them. Does yours, and how thoroughly have you checked it? My leo got herself under my shed once, and I swore she wasn't there the first five times I looked. It wasn't until I fully climbed under that I was able to spot her and pry her out.

Best of luck.:tort::<3:
 

PNoble

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Hiya, turtle/tortoise friends...

NO, nothing yet. Vigilant. Joined "nextdoor.com" for my community of Lake Worth, FL. Immediately I had a few locals contacting me: one guy told me he'd seen a sign at the corner of such-and-such (5 blocks away from me) for a found tortoise. I immediately drove to the address he gave me and there was indeed a sign, with a (sorta blurry) pic of an aquatic. NO complaint. Happy to check out the tip. One lady just told me "I sure hope she comes home soon!" I appreciate every comment and every lead. NO STONE UNTURNED!

You're all amazingly helpful and kind. NO ONE is a "flake." Everyone is entitled to their opinion, to giving advice, to tell their own story. As always...freedoms. THANK YOU. LaBella is coming back. At some point. I'm so thankful I joined this Forum.

Happy Father's Day, Dads!

PATTY

**Lesson: join your neighborhood "nextdoor.com" - a wealth of information about your own back yard!
 

Pearly

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Central Texas, Austin area
Hiya, turtle/tortoise friends...

NO, nothing yet. Vigilant. Joined "nextdoor.com" for my community of Lake Worth, FL. Immediately I had a few locals contacting me: one guy told me he'd seen a sign at the corner of such-and-such (5 blocks away from me) for a found tortoise. I immediately drove to the address he gave me and there was indeed a sign, with a (sorta blurry) pic of an aquatic. NO complaint. Happy to check out the tip. One lady just told me "I sure hope she comes home soon!" I appreciate every comment and every lead. NO STONE UNTURNED!

You're all amazingly helpful and kind. NO ONE is a "flake." Everyone is entitled to their opinion, to giving advice, to tell their own story. As always...freedoms. THANK YOU. LaBella is coming back. At some point. I'm so thankful I joined this Forum.

Happy Father's Day, Dads!

PATTY

**Lesson: join your neighborhood "nextdoor.com" - a wealth of information about your own back yard!
How very right!!! Keep her in your thought always close to you. Never give up. I have always done that, this combined with meditation is what so often produces those so called "miracles". Our thoughts and actions do influence the world around us. We are all interconnected. I'm sending you mine (thoughts) right now:) good luck❤️
 

PNoble

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Did you ever find her?? =( I am so sorry <3

Happy 5th of July, All!
I hope everyone had a happy holiday!
Still no LaBella...rest assured I'll post the moment I find her. I know she's out there...but has someone found her and decided to keep/try to sell, etc? Or is she still wandering, coming out to browse & graze then finding a spot to send the night(s)? TORTURE!
Sigh...cannot wait until this is over...
Thank you, Pals....
PATTY
 

Pearly

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Happy 5th of July, All!
I hope everyone had a happy holiday!
Still no LaBella...rest assured I'll post the moment I find her. I know she's out there...but has someone found her and decided to keep/try to sell, etc? Or is she still wandering, coming out to browse & graze then finding a spot to send the night(s)? TORTURE!
Sigh...cannot wait until this is over...
Thank you, Pals....
PATTY
Keep your faith and hope in finding her alive and close to your heart, don't give it up. Hugs
 

TammyJ

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Wishing and waiting too, for the safe return of LaBella, a really beautiful tortoise.
 

PNoble

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Thank you everyone, for continuing to check in. Still no LaBella. I wonder constantly. Beyond bummed. Glad I'm busy. I check back in with different sources...nothing. So many hits here on tortoiseforum.org it's amazing. Still hopeful and needing to post fresh signs...rain and sun and time have destroyed a few...Keep on envisioning her return! I can't wait for the day I can tell you all she's back!
XO
PATTY
 

bouaboua

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Best wishes for return of LaBella....:<3::<3:
 

Toby0884

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Good luck to you. I know how devastating a loss can be. Still missing our Redfoot since this time last year. We live in S. Florida also and I'll keep keep a look out as well.
 

PNoble

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Good morning, All! I hope everyone in any of the (MANY) storm-affected areas is OK! I just got power last night after several crazy-hot days without. It's actually the NIGHTS that are so hard! But comparatively speaking...nothing to complain about! :)

HOPING the storm (Irma) stirred LaBella up out of her hiding place...always assuming that no one has her and is keeping her, given all of my postings and phone calls and REWARD posters, etc.

Going to be calling Animal Care & Control, Police, Fish & Wildlife, Zoo, Busch, pet stores, etc...maybe someone's forgotten I'm still looking (and will ALWAYS look!!), given it's been 4 months.

Be well, ALL!

XO

PATTY
 

GingerLove

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Good morning, All! I hope everyone in any of the (MANY) storm-affected areas is OK! I just got power last night after several crazy-hot days without. It's actually the NIGHTS that are so hard! But comparatively speaking...nothing to complain about! :)

HOPING the storm (Irma) stirred LaBella up out of her hiding place...always assuming that no one has her and is keeping her, given all of my postings and phone calls and REWARD posters, etc.

Going to be calling Animal Care & Control, Police, Fish & Wildlife, Zoo, Busch, pet stores, etc...maybe someone's forgotten I'm still looking (and will ALWAYS look!!), given it's been 4 months.

Be well, ALL!

XO

PATTY
I always keep my eye out for tortoises, and I could not possibly miss yours, she's so beautiful! I volunteer at a Wildlife Refuge center and will keep my eye out. (Though I am a bit far away from your area)
 

PNoble

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This is LaBella, my 5 year old, captive-hatched, unsexed-but-believing-female radiated tortoise. She has "disappeared" from my yard in Lake Worth, Florida. I've been in my home for 10 years and my yard is escape-proof, tall privacy fence, etc. I've been at this for 25+ years. Sometimes a radiated will "hide in plain sight" but we have looked for hours, and everywhere!

Stolen?
Gate opened for vegetation removal and somehow she snuck out, despite constant vigilance?

Anyway, the more people that know, the better the chances of recovering her!
Please help, can't live without her! Not kidding, mad dreams last night!

Thank you ALL...it takes a Village!

PATTY
561/309-2229
View attachment 207873


FOUND! FOUND! FOUND! FOUND! FOUND!

hone call at 11pm last night. "Neighbor" a mile away (and across a major road - Dixie Highway) called to tell me her tenant found a tortoise. This sweet local had been following our neighborhood's "Next Door" postings and recognized LaBella by her photo I posted. 5+ months...UNNNNNNBELIEVABLE!

So she's back...5 months bigger, looking fabulous! Quarantined for a bit...I'm over the moon, of course. Not one day went by in those 5 months that I didn't think of her, kick myself, have sad feelings, wonder if I was responsible for her death, etc...UGH!!!

Thank you all @ Tortoise Forum for your assistance and support. I appreciate it SO much; my posting had so many views!

XOXO to All!

:)

PATTY
 

JoesMum

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FOUND! FOUND! FOUND! FOUND! FOUND!

hone call at 11pm last night. "Neighbor" a mile away (and across a major road - Dixie Highway) called to tell me her tenant found a tortoise. This sweet local had been following our neighborhood's "Next Door" postings and recognized LaBella by her photo I posted. 5+ months...UNNNNNNBELIEVABLE!

So she's back...5 months bigger, looking fabulous! Quarantined for a bit...I'm over the moon, of course. Not one day went by in those 5 months that I didn't think of her, kick myself, have sad feelings, wonder if I was responsible for her death, etc...UGH!!!

Thank you all @ Tortoise Forum for your assistance and support. I appreciate it SO much; my posting had so many views!

XOXO to All!

:)

PATTY

Congratulations! I am so pleased for you :)
 

TammyJ

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Wonderful!!! I share your happiness as we all do!!! Send in a photo.:)
 

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