Help! (12yr old wants tortoise temporarily)

russian/sulcata/tortoise

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I understand and agree that someone should make a commitment to their animals but if we go off of what u said here then none of us should keep tortoises. Most of us either arent going to live a hundred years or even if we do we dont have a hundred years left. So by your logic no one should have tortoises because chances are they ciuld easily outlive us.
good point:p
 

gustaf

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If you really want to get a tort and are willing to give it the care it needs go for it. Maybe you will like it so much you will not be able to part with it down the road. But if you do need to rehome it do your best to make sure the torts new owner will take care of it properly.
 

russian/sulcata/tortoise

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That was just the first thing i thought of when i read your post. I thought it was kinda funny so i had to reply. I meant no offense by it. I hope i didnt upset you by saying that.
lol its all good, you don't have to apologize of saying you opinion!!!! i took no offense:)
 

Gillian M

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We all know that our torts are most probably going to outlive us whether we like it or not. But if we are all to think in such a negative way then none of us would have chosen to have a tortoise as a pet and consequently none of us would be here at the forum. Furhermore, these wonderful animals would have found nobody to take care of them.
 

Princessjay

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I Was speaking to my hubby about what we would do if the time ever came that we couldn't look after it properly, because it is a life long commitment.

I see her as my daughter, that way she is always a part our lifestyle.

But should the time ever come we agreed we would give her to a children's petting zoo where children would get to appreciate her.
 

Princessjay

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Hi. I really admire your way of thinking as far as owning a pet is concerned. Let me tell you:

1) I'd never dealt with animals and never had a pet tilI bought a Greek tort about 3.5 years ago. And....
2) I live ALONE. In other words, once I'm gone who's to take care of my beloved tort? Only GOD knows. But I thought: "If I go on thinking in such a negatie way I'll never get a tort or any other pet for that matter." So I bought one after a lot of research and I later joined the forum.

Frankly speaking I was not expecting to be able to deal with an animal: I'm afraid of cats and dogs believe it or not, so I decided to go for a wonderful tort. With time I got addicted to it! If I go out for example, I keep thinking: "Is my tort ok? What is my tort doing?" and so on. And mind you... once my tort got used to me it won't eat unless I HAND FEED it! Therefore if I'm to move anywhere I make sure my tort has eaten, taken a soak, all is fine in its enclosure, I then take off. This definitely is a commitment. But I don't mind it. Would you? (I don't mean to put you down).

If anything strange pops up I write to forum member who are of great help.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
Mine to!! My little one loves handfeeding, it a very rare she will start eating unless she has her first bite from me.
 
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I just wanted to ask.. You all keep saying it is ok if you rehome to a good home, but how do you know if it is a good home? Sorry a little of topic, I was just wondering :)
 

Alaskamike

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I just wanted to ask.. You all keep saying it is ok if you rehome to a good home, but how do you know if it is a good home? Sorry a little of topic, I was just wondering :)
rehoming is really not all that difficlut if you just think about it and take your time. Putting an ad on Craigs list and giving the tort to the 1st person who comes along is probably a bad idea.
There are several ways this can be done with care
- you can offer the tort for sale to "a good home" or....
- you can rehome (for no $) to a good home
Either way you have control of where they go. If you know what good care is you can see if the potential new owner does, or is willing and open to learning Check them out, ask to see the yard / place tort will be kept. get a sense of who they are.
some people take torts only for resale - probably a bad choice
some care little about quality environments, have no $, and just want a "pet - again, bad choice
some have experience, or... are open to creating a great environment, care, and willing to learn. Have the $ time and empathy to do things right -
find these last people. Here on a forum like this is a good place to start looking.
Mike
 

Gillian M

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I just wanted to ask.. You all keep saying it is ok if you rehome to a good home, but how do you know if it is a good home? Sorry a little of topic, I was just wondering :)
True. I also read that torts do NOT like.....CHANGE. Based on these points how can change be ok? I'd appreciate an explanation to these points. Thanks.
 

Alaskamike

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Not even us humans like change much. But we adapt. A tortoise will too, it just takes a little time and effort.
Providing the best environment you can is the most important
They will adjust
 
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