URGENT!!! Rescued RSPCA Tortoise - What is it!?

[mollymurphy]

Hi guys - need your help asap please! Just been to the rspca to take a kitten that we'd been hand-rearing for them. We mentioned that she'd been playing with all our animals, including climbing on our leopard tortoises. The RSPCA managers ears pricked up and she said "Oooh, do you know much about tortoises?!" She brought this tortoise out and said is had been wondering around on wasteland in the Manchester area. She asked if we wanted it, or maybe just look after it for a while. So we've brought her home. However, we're quite new to tortoises ourselves - only had leopards for nearly a year.

Any help with this one would be greatly appreciated. She's about 2kg. We were told she was a Yellow Footed tortoise - is she?

How different are her needs to Leopards?

Many thanks.

Lou. x

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/mollymurphy_2007/DSC_3347.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w8/mollymurphy_2007/DSC_3348.jpg
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[Becks]

redfoot :D
visit my website in my sig for more info bless her poor thing

[sarah]

Becks web site is brill lost of info. She is a tropical tortoise that will need humdity and will grow quite large.
My reds:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i315/blonde-sarah/reds001.jpg
There outside enclosure:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i315/blonde-sarah/harryandred007.jpg

[sandy]

A lumpy red foot<g>.

[sarah]

Yes some of my rehomers are like that but with a proper diet new growth will be smooth, probably been kept on cat foot, too much fruit and fed too much.

[midi-mania]

she looks liek a cross to me but meh i know nothing :)

[mollymurphy]

Thanks guys! I shall get down to some reading!!! Pain in the bum that they need humidity, because Leopards dont, so we wont be able to keep her. If anyone knows anyone who wants to rehome her, let me know! We'll keep her in the meantime.

Thank you!

Lou. x

[sarah]

You dont need air humidty you need ground humdity, damp substrate and a spray of water now and again.

[mollymurphy]

So is it possible to keep them with Leopards? In a 8' X 6' shed. And an outdoor enclosure obviouly. :?:

[niamherrity]

What a shame you can't keep her :cry: i'm amazed she has survied out on her own, a special tortoise who deserves a lovely new home :D

[Becks]

she souldnt effect your leos as she would be kept separately. as all tortoise spieces sould :wink:

[niamherrity]

You cant mix them she/he would need their own tort table, and outdoor enclosure :D

[mollymurphy]

Awww, bummer. She's a cutie as well. :( Im amazed she survived! Ahhh well, i'll get looking for a new home for her - the sanctuary people didnt have a clue (no offence to them!), so i'd rather find someone suitable myself. Any takers!? :lol: :wink: :lol:

[mollymurphy]

Oh, not that i have much of a clue either, but they were feeding her fruit and she had no heat!! :lol:

[sarah]

No you should never mix species ever. But in a table on her own she would be fine. Take pictures of her underneath and post them in the ID section and see if she is male or female.

[midi-mania]

er... sarah :oops: i bort some seeds off your ebay account and then when i went to pay i sudenly reasiled that i didnt have enough cash in my paypal... :oops:

[sarah]

Pm'd mollymurphy and Midi-mania

[midi-mania]

pmd?

[sarah]

Sent you a message it shoudl say at the top of your screen 1 message.

[midi-mania]

got it (thanks) :roll:

[ossypete]

if you need any help or advice on anything if i can help let me know i keep redfoots ( one or two !!) myself , there is plenty of info on here if you look :-)

[mollymurphy]

Fab, thank you!

Should have said - i'm not just offering her out! Any potential home would be vetted by the RSPCA and she'll only go to someone who has (or has had) Red Foots!
Where's the best place to find homes for these?
Lou. x

[mollymurphy]

Right, we're sorted! Thanks to Tamie and the Tortoise Trust, a new home will hopefully be found soon! Thank you everybody!

Lou. x

[piglet]

I can't believe the RSPCA gave you a tortoise you new nothing about did you not first get vetted to make sure you new the husbandry.

Did they not know the speices either

D

[Pussygalore]

I must admit I also thought that a bit suss, exspecially when they make such a fuss over who can have one of their animals.

[mollymurphy]

Oh i've already been vetted!! I foster orphans for them! The inspector has already been to do a home check. :lol:

No, they told me she was a yellow foot. :?:

[Pussygalore]

but without being funny don,t the RSPCA have access to proper reptile rescue centers, I know the woman who runs Beaver World a reptile and bird sanctuary near us takes in reptiles, birds etc form the RSPCA so why didn,t the tort go to someone who has the knowlege and set up for keeping them and rehome it from there, please don,t think that your not doing a good job etc but if neither they nor you knew the breeding or care it needs then surely it would have been better off with someone that does I wouldn,t take in an animal that I had no idea of caring for and wouldn,t imagine that any animal society RSPCA or whatever would let me have it and I wouldn,t expect them to, whether I had been vetted or not. I,m sorry but I don,t hold a lot of respect for the RSPCA they may be fine with dogs and cats etc but they don,t seem to know a lot about exotics and from the dealings I,ve had with them don,t want anything to do with wildlife either.

[laine21]

Well done you, it must be really interesting working with the RSPCA, helping with fostering animals etc..

[mollymurphy]

but without being funny don,t the RSPCA have access to proper reptile rescue centers, I know the woman who runs Beaver World a reptile and bird sanctuary near us takes in reptiles, birds etc form the RSPCA so why didn,t the tort go to someone who has the knowlege and set up for keeping them and rehome it from there, please don,t think that your not doing a good job etc but if neither they nor you knew the breeding or care it needs then surely it would have been better off with someone that does I wouldn,t take in an animal that I had no idea of caring for and wouldn,t imagine that any animal society RSPCA or whatever would let me have it and I wouldn,t expect them to, whether I had been vetted or not. I,m sorry but I don,t hold a lot of respect for the RSPCA they may be fine with dogs and cats etc but they don,t seem to know a lot about exotics and from the dealings I,ve had with them don,t want anything to do with wildlife either.

No, i know what you're saying. But they've had her for "a few weeks" and hadn't done anything about it. I've had her for a few hours and have arranged for her to go to a specialist. I couldnt leave her with them. I know i'm clueless, but they were even more so. I didnt know wha else to do. :( I'm not going to rip the rspca on an open forum, but believe me, i've had a nightmare with them lately (horse-related) but the animals are innocent - hence me volunteering to foster.

laine21 - yep, it sure is!! :lol:

[DAISY]

I know what you mean, I once found an injured canadian goose in my garden, living near a park with a lake, I was under a direct flight path and it must have fallen from the sky or something. I called the rspca only to be told that as it was the weekend to call back Monday. I knew nothing about how to care for it and told them and their attitude was if it was going to survive it would last till Monday. I ended up wrapping it in blanket, putting it in a box and taking it to a lady miles away who I knew and knew how to care for it. I was disgusted by the rspca attitude. Thankfully it made a full recovery.
Incidently now I live near a marina I'm under another flight path and they arent half noisy, but beautiful.

Rach

[Pussygalore]

good on you for doing something but we shouldn,t have to do their work for them they get more than enough money none of which goes into the animals kennels etc but can afford to pay part time office workers £10 per hour but lay off their inspectors, Ive also had horse related dealings and was left far from satisfied and have a freind who phoned them up in the evening about a dog that had been run over only to be told to take it to a vets as they didn,t deal with strays or street incidents, they don,t even have a list of wildlife hosptals I had to phone around to find that information, any way I,m glad that the poor tort now stands a better future and hope he/she finds a nice home. Sorry if I came accross a bit strong but theres a lot thats hidden about some so called animal charitys and it gets my back up.

[wizzasmum]

she looks liek a cross to me but meh i know nothing :)

Cross?

[Tamie Milne]

No, i know what you're saying. But they've had her for "a few weeks" and hadn't done anything about it. I've had her for a few hours and have arranged for her to go to a specialist. I couldnt leave her with them. I know i'm clueless, but they were even more so. I didnt know wha else to do. :( I'm not going to rip the rspca on an open forum, but believe me, i've had a nightmare with them lately (horse-related) but the animals are innocent - hence me volunteering to foster.

laine21 - yep, it sure is!! :lol:

Mollymurphy - please do not feel you are clueless, you are not, you knew in your heart you could, with support, find the right home for this tortoise. Not everyone knows everything about every species and I admire the lengths you are going to for this little girl.

I know you rang me within minutes of being told my telephone number for advise and reassurance about rehoming - you are doing ALL you can for this tortoise and I am here to support you all the way.

I am not going to rip into the RSPCA for handing over the tortoise to you - I am grateful that they did. At least now she is being cared for by yourself and once a caring redfoot keeper steps forward this tortoise will go to a loving home.

Tamie

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[DAISY]

Ive done the dog thing to. A yorkie ran under the wheels of my car one bonfire night it was terrified. No collar or anything. It didnt seem injured and the rspca told me to take it to a police station. Did I have trouble finding a station that would take it. It was a joke and me and the kids spent most of the night driving from one station to another.
The owners managed to reclaim , they had forgotten to let the dog in on bonfire night of all nights. Stupid.

Rach

[wizzasmum]

Fab, thank you!

Should have said - i'm not just offering her out! Any potential home would be vetted by the RSPCA and she'll only go to someone who has (or has had) Red Foots!
Where's the best place to find homes for these?
Lou. x

TBH - I would not just take it that the RSPCA know how to keep redfoots or any other tort - after all it WAS a branch of the RSPCA that put someones long lost tort in a bucket of water and drowned it thinking it was a turtle. Do make sure that they have officers experienced in chelonia before handing it over.

[laine21]

At least with Tamie on the case now, she will make sure the tortoise will go to a good home.

[wizzasmum]

Oh i've already been vetted!! I foster orphans for them! The inspector has already been to do a home check. :lol:

No, they told me she was a yellow foot. :?:

Hi Molly
Whereas some branches are not bad, some are awful and instead of checking info on certain species, would rather do guess work. I once reported someone for not keeping two ponies in humane conditions near to where I lived. They told me everything was OK as the lady whose garden was the other side of the field gave them her grass cuttings and household scraps. One pony died and I did not see what happened to the other one. The lady feeding the grass cuttings was apparently one of their volunteers :cry:
Well done you for taking on the kitten though :wink:

[wizzasmum]

but without being funny don,t the RSPCA have access to proper reptile rescue centers, I know the woman who runs Beaver World a reptile and bird sanctuary near us takes in reptiles, birds etc form the RSPCA so why didn,t the tort go to someone who has the knowlege and set up for keeping them and rehome it from there, please don,t think that your not doing a good job etc but if neither they nor you knew the breeding or care it needs then surely it would have been better off with someone that does I wouldn,t take in an animal that I had no idea of caring for and wouldn,t imagine that any animal society RSPCA or whatever would let me have it and I wouldn,t expect them to, whether I had been vetted or not. I,m sorry but I don,t hold a lot of respect for the RSPCA they may be fine with dogs and cats etc but they don,t seem to know a lot about exotics and from the dealings I,ve had with them don,t want anything to do with wildlife either.

As mentioned it depends on where you go to. My son took a bird of prey to the RSPCA when it had been clipped by a car on a busy dual carriageway. They took it in, put it on the road to recovery and even phoned him to ask if he wanted to release it in the area he found it in. We collected it and released it, it was a very rewarding experience.
ps is that place really called Beaver World <vbg>
Bet they get some strange phone calls ;)

[wizzasmum]

No, i know what you're saying. But they've had her for "a few weeks" and hadn't done anything about it. I've had her for a few hours and have arranged for her to go to a specialist. I couldnt leave her with them. I know i'm clueless, but they were even more so. I didnt know wha else to do. :( I'm not going to rip the rspca on an open forum, but believe me, i've had a nightmare with them lately (horse-related) but the animals are innocent - hence me volunteering to foster.

And bloosy well done for taking the initiative - it's hardly your fault that an organisation fell short. You did what was right and contacted someone to help this tort. Hats off to you.

[Tamie Milne]

At least with Tamie on the case now, she will make sure the tortoise will go to a good home.

Just waiting for the emails from the redfoot keepers ..... :wink:

Tamie

[laine21]

Our local RSPCA is a very busy, but quite small rescue and rehoming centre, they are often full, but staffed by some lovely people who are as helpful as they can be, they have contacts with local small rescues and will do whatever they can. If they can't take something in, because of space, they will redirect you to others who may have space. personally I have only had good experiences with the RSPCA.

[linda]

At least with Tamie on the case now, she will make sure the tortoise will go to a good home.

Just waiting for the emails from the redfoot keepers ..... :wink:

Tamie

im very very tempted :lol:

[laine21]

Good job this little tortoise has you to consider her best needs Molly, not everyone would do what you have done, but you knew what to do and where to go for help, on this forum and the Tortoise Trust. You may not have experience with red foots, but have been just the right person to help her. Well done you! 8)

[helen1]

Just like all animal groups/charities the RSPCA has good and bad within it I personally would like to praise the good and hope that they continue to do the work that they do. If there are bad experiences then surely we can work to change that as with pet shops. The story about the tortoise always seems to get trotted out but lets celebrate the good things, when I lived in Oxford they came out as our very adventurous cat had climbed the BIGGEST oak tree in the world in the convent grounds, they spent hrs getting her down safely and my children were reunited with their pet. In my area they ring me if they have any tort related problems and we have a good relationship, they network with other groups too. Lets encourage networking then we all benefit. Well done you with the redfoot and well done for working alongside them even though you do have reservations.

[Tamie Milne]

Sorry if I sound tetchy but enough about the RSPCA and get back to the issue of the poor tortoise that needs a home.

Please contact me (tamie.milne@btinternet.com) if you are a member of the TT and can help with the little one, she is the priority not the RSPCA.

Tamie
TT Rehoming

[Pussygalore]

Beaver World is not far from us the other side of Sevenoaks, its a funny place, bit run down and I think the lady who lives there and runs has done for many years, its entirely funded by the £2 to get in a small shop and any money she raises or gets given, I must admit the torts, and other animals she has are kept rather old fashioned ie in glass fronted enclosures but her hearts in the right place, we had a male cockatiel from her because he,d hurt his leg and couldn,t go back in the aviary for a while, he,s now fine in our avairy with 2 lady freinds, she also had an enormous crocodile that was called Big Boy and was used in one of the early Bond films he was very old and has since died, most of the residents are up for rehoming and she asks for a donation she likes to place them else she wouldn,t be able to take in anymore, one thing of interest is that there is a really good exotic vet based near there birds and reptiles and he,s opening a weekly clinic at her place so that will be well worth knowing for the future, we often take up cages etc some from freecycle as she can always use things like that I wished I lived nearer as I,d love to volunteer a few days shes already asked me but its about 1/2 hours drive and as I don,t work can,t afford the petrol to get there, it got its name because they have some Beavers although they never put in an appearence when we,ve gone there.

[dizzywend]

well done for giving her a temporary home!
I am sure she will find a great new home soon!

Wendy

[wizzasmum]

[it got its name because they have some Beavers although they never put in an appearence when we,ve gone there.[/quote]

LOL - definately up for abuse then - maybe they should call it reptile world to be on the safe side <vbg>