Source
r/AskReddit•
krale26

What do I do with the live turtle my dog brought me?

I think its a red eared slider. Some quick checks on wikipedia say they need pools of water to live in, and they aren't common in my area.

I don't know what to do with it. If I leave it in the yard, the dogs will mess with it. If I take him outside the yard...well, chances are high that he'll get run over. Anyone got an idea?

EDIT: I'm in San Diego, CA. If you know of an organization around here that will take it, I'd love you forever. I tried calling the local turtle & tortoise organization, but got no answer.

EDIT 2: After determining he had no desire for pizza or natural knack for martial arts, I finally got in touch with the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society. They're helping me out and he should have a new home by this evening.

Posted Dec 14, 2009, 6:38 PM UTC · edited

836
Archz714•

buy it pizza and teach it karate.

35
buttunz•

Splinter taught them to be ninja teens (He's a radical rat!)

Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (That's a fact, Jack!)

Raphael is cool but crude (Gimme a break!)

Michaelangelo is a party dude (Party!)

5
[deleted]•

Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!

1
[deleted]•

First he must name it. He has only four choices.

4
Mrschan•

sir, you just made my day

2
paveln•

It wasn't slime, it was ooze!

1
allotriophagy•

Fake a smile and try to look really pleased. Same drill as every other Christmas.

13
as1126•

two seconds to think about it, and then, BAM, I laughed.

2
joeyinmotion•

Get a permanent marker pen, then on its stomach draw around a cd, now split the 'drawn-on' circle into 4 equal quarters with a ruler. In the first quarter write "eat", in the second write "sell" in the third write "befriend" and in the forth "ignore". Now, spin the turtle on its shell and which ever quarter ends up in front of your right big-toe, that is the advice you must follow. Now go brave young one!!!

6
Ultimate_DSL•

Put it on a neigbor's porch, ring the doorbell and hide.

3
[deleted]•

either put it in a tank with a dry area and water area, and feed it fruit and veggies (no lettuce) and little fishies and turtle food, or take it to a lake or pond (fresh water, no ocean) and turn it loose. also, since your dog brought it to you, be sure it's not injured. put it in a box or tank and just watch it. it'll eventually come out of it's shell and if it moves around ok, it should be fine. give it a good once-over and be sure it's not hurt in any way. if you dont have a tank or a box, put the dogs inside and let it crawl around the yard during your inspection.

watch out for claws.

i had a red-eared slider for years, caught in a truck yard as a teeny-tiny hatchling. i kept it for years and it got pretty big. i was working alot and couldn't devote as much time to it as i needed to, so i gave him to some friends who had kids and a giant tank to put him in. he's happy. they really are fascinating, fun pets. i used to take him outside for walks, which got odd looks from the neighbors. and my boyfriend.

3
krale26OP•

I've got him in a box right now. He spent most of the morning wandering around the part of the yard I can fence the dogs off from, but I decided he'd be safer in the box after I found him trying to climb the stairs. And yeah...I noticed the claws. They look like they could do some damage.

I managed to get in contact with someone from a local turtle & tortoise society, and now I'm waiting to hear back from them about a possible home. I wish I could keep him, he's pretty cool.

1
[deleted]•

if i was closer i'd take it. yeah, they're great climbers. he really needs some water, though. put a tub of water out there with like a little walkway he can use to get in/out, or dig a hole and put the tub in it so he can get in/out. if all else fails, wanna ship a turtle to tx??? i work less than i did before, and can devote more time to him..........

1
fenshi•

Return him to the wild. Just don't drop him off right next to the road.

2
programzeta•

I assume you've tried San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society: (619) 593-2123

If they're not picking up then call a vet that can take care of it, should it be necessary. They should be able to either point you in the right direction or take it off your hands, though you may be stuck with it for a day or so:

East County:
Pet Emergency & Specialty Center
Todd Cecil, DVM
5232 Jackson Dr # 105, La Mesa, CA 91941
Phone: (619) 462-4800          
www.pescsandiego.com

North County:
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos
Dr. Thomas Boyer
9888 Suite F Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego, CA 92129
Phone: 858.484.3490 | Fax: 858.484.3499
[email protected] 

Downtown / Mission Valley:
Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital
Jeffrey R. Jenkins, DVM
2317 Hotel Circle South #C, San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 260-1412          
www.avianandexoticanimalhospital.com

(not vouching for any of these vets, but they all appear to be useful with regard to reptiles per a local enthusiast society http://www.sdherpsociety.org/ )

In the interim, give it some water and keep it inside if possible

2
phsboggs•

Turtle Soup

2
[deleted]•

Dog Soup

2
digisanta•

Local wildlife sanctuary anywhere?

1
krale26OP•

I tried calling Project Wildlife, but they only take birds and mammals.

1
[deleted]•

No ponds or anything around?

1
krale26OP•

Nope. I have no idea where the little guy came from, its a pretty dry, paved area.

1
[deleted]•

Hmmm... maybe try and convince a local pet store that you bought it there and are returning it?

2
YertleTheTurtle•

He probably escaped from one of your neighbors.

1
Zedkhov1•

it's someones pet that they carelessly let out or got rid of.

Put it up on craigslist for free to a good home, or keep em yourself they arent much work and make good pets. someone will be willing to take it and care for it I am sure.

1
[deleted]•

find his 3 turtle brothers and train them in the ways of the ninja.

1
jotate•

http://shredderlessthan3soup.ytmnd.com/

(warning: auto-playing audio. In case you've never been to ytmnd.)

1
oliver_higgenbottom•

Soup.

Or, a more usefull answer: SPCA/ humane society.

1
Mrschan•

They sell those at Petco. Personally I would say just get a fish tank of water and keep him, but then again I've wanted a red-eared slider turtle since I fell in love with Raphael when I was six. You can try craig's list. Some people have turtle tanks and can give him a nice indoor home. Otherwise try and take him to a pond to live his turtle days out in peace.

If you do keep him you should name him Mr. Turtle or Raphael

1
buttunz•

Humane society.

1
as1126•

I've had similar as pets, they can be kept, but it is some work. They eat dried fish pellets and the tanks can get smelly.

1
Xrm•

My dog brought me a turtle a few years ago. It was so big her back legs had trouble staying on the ground while she walked back. I think she found it in a nearby river, so i brought it back there and let it go. haven't seen it since.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
orangepotion•

Soup.

1
YertleTheTurtle•

I have use for him. Please ship him to the Island of Sala-ma-Sond. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

1