Hi, So sometime today a good friend of mine is bringing me a Tortoise. I have never had a Tortoise, I've never really wanted one (Heard their care was extreme) and I don't know a lot about them. I'm honestly pretty nervous.
I don't even know what kind of Tortoise it is.
I tend to be that one person that everyone calls about animal problems, or asking me to take in rescues or strays. I am now in Aerospace but before that I was going to be a veterinarian and worked in a hospital for years. I have had just about every kind of animal under my care, except Tortoises'/Turtles.
The other night, late at night, I get a call from my friend. He works as a nurse of sorts for people with mental illnesses. He said it was an emergency and asked if I can take a Tortoise. I asked him why and he said in one of the homes he visits, a woman had one locked in a closet, saying that she wanted to kill it. Apparently it was her ex's, the ex moved out and left the Tortoise. She had a grudge against this ex, so she put the Tortoise in a closet and hoped that by turning off the heating lamps, it would die. He says that she told him that she has had it in the closet for 3 months. I don't know how truthful it is or how it could have survived that long.
She asked my friend to take it, otherwise she was going to put it outside. We live in Oregon, it's cold and damp and I definitely don't see it surviving outside.
I agreed to take in the Tortoise, but I told him that I don't think I am the best home for it, so I may have to re-home it.
I told my kids about it, now they are excited and trying to do all kinds of research about them through YouTube. They are already picking out names. My husband is not pleased, he is not much of an animal person like myself. He'd be happy if we didn't have any, but he's ok with it due to the situation.
So this is my dilemma, My feelings are to care for this animal for awhile. It's probably been through a lot already and taking it in and then quickly rushing it off to some other unknown situation bothers my conscious.
How reasonable is it to take care of it short term? What do I need? I do own a snake, so I figured the care is pretty equal as far as habitat. Should I immediately take it to a vet?
Does anyone know of any good rescue groups in Oregon? I don't want to put it on Craigslist.
Advice please.
I can post pictures once I get it.
I don't even know what kind of Tortoise it is.
I tend to be that one person that everyone calls about animal problems, or asking me to take in rescues or strays. I am now in Aerospace but before that I was going to be a veterinarian and worked in a hospital for years. I have had just about every kind of animal under my care, except Tortoises'/Turtles.
The other night, late at night, I get a call from my friend. He works as a nurse of sorts for people with mental illnesses. He said it was an emergency and asked if I can take a Tortoise. I asked him why and he said in one of the homes he visits, a woman had one locked in a closet, saying that she wanted to kill it. Apparently it was her ex's, the ex moved out and left the Tortoise. She had a grudge against this ex, so she put the Tortoise in a closet and hoped that by turning off the heating lamps, it would die. He says that she told him that she has had it in the closet for 3 months. I don't know how truthful it is or how it could have survived that long.
She asked my friend to take it, otherwise she was going to put it outside. We live in Oregon, it's cold and damp and I definitely don't see it surviving outside.
I agreed to take in the Tortoise, but I told him that I don't think I am the best home for it, so I may have to re-home it.
I told my kids about it, now they are excited and trying to do all kinds of research about them through YouTube. They are already picking out names. My husband is not pleased, he is not much of an animal person like myself. He'd be happy if we didn't have any, but he's ok with it due to the situation.
So this is my dilemma, My feelings are to care for this animal for awhile. It's probably been through a lot already and taking it in and then quickly rushing it off to some other unknown situation bothers my conscious.
How reasonable is it to take care of it short term? What do I need? I do own a snake, so I figured the care is pretty equal as far as habitat. Should I immediately take it to a vet?
Does anyone know of any good rescue groups in Oregon? I don't want to put it on Craigslist.
Advice please.
I can post pictures once I get it.