Hi,
I have two issues actually but the first. I did a bad thing yesterday and when wandering into a really, really disgusting pet store, broke my rule and actually purchased an abused animal. I couldn't help it, he looked like he was cooking (they had him in a tiny enclosure, way too hot with nowhere to get away from the heat lamp and I'm sure they aren't monitoring the temp.) I did report the shop, and I am documenting his condition in photos which I plan to turn over to the appropriate office (heck I'll give it to some animal rights people if the authorities don't care,) but in the meantime, I don't think I can get him to the vet until next week. All they had in the shop were pellets, so first thing, I offered him some fresh blackberries which he devoured.
I'm fixing him a fresh salad with earthworms that he'll get after his chamomile bath, but I'm astounded at how bad he looks. His nails were so long they were curled around and he couldn't use his feet normally, his beak is HUGE, I've never seen one so overgrown. And he has no tail.
Aside from all that, he seems active and alert and really thrilled to be able to go outside and in normal enclosure with dirt and plants. He's in quarantine right now and I haven't decided what I'm going to do with him.
I already have two three-toeds which live indoors all winter and in an outdoor enclosure on my deck during the summer, so I have an idea of how to take care him. I worked in an animal shelter and can trim nails, have trimed birds beaks, but never a turtle and I'm taken aback by his condition. Is the tail missing likely from injury? And while he looks like a three toed, he's twice as big as my guys. Should I try to gently file his beak down or wait till he sees the vet?
Any tips for from people that have done box turtle rescue?
I have two issues actually but the first. I did a bad thing yesterday and when wandering into a really, really disgusting pet store, broke my rule and actually purchased an abused animal. I couldn't help it, he looked like he was cooking (they had him in a tiny enclosure, way too hot with nowhere to get away from the heat lamp and I'm sure they aren't monitoring the temp.) I did report the shop, and I am documenting his condition in photos which I plan to turn over to the appropriate office (heck I'll give it to some animal rights people if the authorities don't care,) but in the meantime, I don't think I can get him to the vet until next week. All they had in the shop were pellets, so first thing, I offered him some fresh blackberries which he devoured.
I'm fixing him a fresh salad with earthworms that he'll get after his chamomile bath, but I'm astounded at how bad he looks. His nails were so long they were curled around and he couldn't use his feet normally, his beak is HUGE, I've never seen one so overgrown. And he has no tail.
Aside from all that, he seems active and alert and really thrilled to be able to go outside and in normal enclosure with dirt and plants. He's in quarantine right now and I haven't decided what I'm going to do with him.
I already have two three-toeds which live indoors all winter and in an outdoor enclosure on my deck during the summer, so I have an idea of how to take care him. I worked in an animal shelter and can trim nails, have trimed birds beaks, but never a turtle and I'm taken aback by his condition. Is the tail missing likely from injury? And while he looks like a three toed, he's twice as big as my guys. Should I try to gently file his beak down or wait till he sees the vet?
Any tips for from people that have done box turtle rescue?