Five years ago, this little one was taken from the wild, given to a child and kept in a tiny aquarium. A small bowl for water, and a small bowl for processed turtle food were the only items in her small home. She sat in the dry mulch, day after day, with no place to hide, her only light was what came through the small window where her tank was placed. For 5 years she did not grow. Her child owner, 8 at the time of her incarceration, loved her, but had not been coached on how to take care of a turtle, nor had any of the adults in the household bothered to do any research on the needs of such a tiny soul.

On October 12, 2019, I was able to admit her into the sanctuary.

She came with very dry flakey skin and a swollen right front leg that she was unable to use, initiating a visit to the vet. Fluid was drained and an x- ray taken showed no broken bones and at home treatment with a MRM laser unit was prescribed. A week later, an abcess drained, allowing her to build strength in her leg and begin to use it again.

She immensely enjoyed her first swim and has acquired a taste for live food.

She will spend her first winter here in a controlled environment in the greenhouse, where hopefully she will do a short period of brumation, when she is ready, and next year she will be acclimated to where native turtles like her should be; outside.

She is one of the lucky ones, the damage she sustained to the growth of her shell during those five years seems minimal. Her shell is a little domed, with slight pyramiding, but now with proper food, humidity and light, she should continue to grow into a small adult.

Please support our efforts to provide for turtles like our little Baby, and help us continue to educate children of all ages about the importance of protection of Habitat for all our native critters.

and, Please, with any pet, do your research for proper care, and never leave that responsibility to a child.