Sad Situation

[Livingstone]

Very sorry for your loss. Please learn from what has happened and get a tortoise too large to be a chew toy (5yrs or greater), or even better get one when you permanently move out of your parents house! Sorry again for the loss.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

This is a pretty sad story, so I warn you about reading further.

So I moved back in with my parents, they have 3 dogs. I brought Blastoise (8mo Sulcata) home and they were apathetic towards him. They would look and sorta smell him, but go on their merry ways. Well I was still cautious, so for the first week I watched him when he was in his outdoor kiddie pool all day (I had him on a table, and with bungees holding down the chicken wire atop the pool). The dogs didn't even notice, except for when I brought him out, and put him away. I watched them play, disregarding my Sulcata. The next week went fine without constant supervision until a couple days ago, I got a call while I was out shopping. My dad said the dogs had gotten my tort but he was alive(they tore the chicken wire open). I was petrified, I had no idea what to do. I was so scared, they were on the way to a pet emergency room. I was semi-optimistic, knowing that they bit part of his shell. Once I arrived though, I saw his condition and it was grave. The dogs bit off his front left foot, and tore into his plastron. It was a gruesome site. At this point I was still optimistic, thinking that he could still make it if his foot heals (recently visiting a sea turtle rehab). The doctor called a herp vet and asked what to do. This is what I was told, "the outlook isn't the best, the chance of infection is very high. If he makes it through tonight, there will have to be a surgery to remove his leg to try to prevent any further infection, and his plastron will have to be rebuilt." This was devastating to me, I was horrified. But there was nothing I could do. I asked how much it would cost, and they estimated around $950 (cost of surgery/staying in the hospital) they still couldn't guarantee his health after that. Its then that it occurred to me the possibility of him not making it. I cried, I hysterically cried. The doctor came back out and asked what I wanted to do. The thoughts were running through my head, but the one that prevailed was, he loves to dig, he loves to walk around, he loves to play. If he survives, he won't have a front left leg to do this with, and it will be a long slow process for his recovery. and it still wasn't any guarantee that he would definitely make it. It was then I started crying again, the doctor asked what I wanted to do, I said "Just......(i couldn't speak at this point)... I think......... Put... asleep." That was such a hard decision to make, but it is for the better, he is in a place where he can eternally dig, and run around. Seeing him the way he was, was a terrible site, I knew he was in excruciating pain, and I know the decision I made was the best for him.

I am getting another Sulcata to help with the grieving process, and will keep him under 100% supervision, ALWAYS.
I hate the dogs, but can only hate them to an extent. I don't know what had gotten into them, they didn't bother for 2 weeks, then one day just snapped. It is a terrible thing and I hope no one has to ever deal with such an incident.

RIP Blastoise

Rest In peace little Blastoise. :'(

 

[Koopa92]

really sorry for your loss, sweet little tort too... as said above, theres no point blaming the dog, i'm a dog behaviourist and trainer and unfortunately these things can only be prevented or seriously reduced by PROPER socialisation equaling a well adjusted dog, even then these things do and will happen as dogs are animals themselves... very sorry though and hope you find the new tortoise you are looking for, it will never replace the one you had but im sure you will love it too.

 

[SnakeyeZ]

Sorry for your loss. It takes something like this to wake one up and make them realize that you can't under estimate any other animal.

 

[Laura]

So sorry, but thanks for sharing. However there are lots of stories here just like this.. and people still 'trust' the dogs. Some go years and nothing happens.. then one day....

I would wait to get another one. I know it helps with the loss, but unless you live elsewhere or cant completely build a seperate yard for the tort. I would not get another.
The dogs don't know or understand what they did was so wrong and hurtful to us. They are dogs.
Like a coyote killing a beloved cat.. they don't understand that...

 

[TortieLuver]

Sorry to hear about the situation and the passing of your lil' Sulcata. It is very difficult to go through something like that and hear all too many times sad stories like this one. I thought Tom's recent thread on Dogs was very good.

 

[RV's mom]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Our Bear never had issue with the tort, left her alone all her days. Now Bear is gone and we're considering another dog. My ceramics 'studio' is in the garage, and I work there with the door open, distracted by pottery, I don't always know when someone approaches... So the need of a dog for awareness/protection. I don't know how I'd react with a new dog, if it were to go for RV. There will be a lot of separation and work..

again, very sorry for your loss. The decision to euthanize isn't easy, but it is the most humane thing.. prayers for your and your tort.......

teri

 

[SulcataSquirt]

So sorry for your loss. Its hard to trust any dogs around your tort. I have a jack russel terrier and he is about 30 pounds, hes a stout bigger than normal jack. I have seen him numerous times bite right through extension cords in one bite that had 12 gauge wire in them. were talking 3 strands of 12 gauge wire in one bite. I have never ever trusted the chicken wire to keep dogs out. dogs are just far to crazy when it comes to somthing they want. Sorry again.