I live in North Branford, CT and I just spotted a large female RES in the North Haven Petco store. She looks to be about 10-15 years old, and I know this because of the huge amount of shell deformity. She's shaped more like a football or a tortoise than a slim and streamlined slider. She was clearly in too small of a tank for her entire life.
On top of that, she may not have had the correct lighting/diet situation either, because she clearly has shell rot starting to form. Her family must have panicked or decided they didn't want their "ugly" turtle anymore and left her in the Petco store to die. She's not recieving veterinary care there and she can't compete with the cuteness of the new babies in the exact same tank as she is. She'll never find a home without extreme measures being taken!
I already asked every herp vet in CT, four rescue agencies from CT, NY and MA, each one of my individual family members, and all of my friends (real life and Facebook) if anyone would like to be a temporary emergency foster home for her. WE need to get her out of that pet store tank PRONTO. I am happy to pay for all veterinary care to save her life, but I already have an 80 gallon tank with my 8 year old female Crush living in it. She does not want a sister, and frankly after Crush's bout with Septicemia (which she survived, hallelujah) two years ago, I don't really want to expose her to any other turtles, sick or well.
Does anyone in the area want to save a life with me? Please get back to me as soon as possible! This turtle just arrived in Petco within the last week, but who knows how sick she is or how long she has left before beginning a downward spiral. Help me save this little girl!
