Going Through the Grieving Process | Reflections

It's been 2 weeks, but I don't care. 

I've read incredible stories of people reuniting with their Russian tortoises even as long as two years after losing them!

I was thinking of microchip-ing any future tortoise I have, but as my husband accurately stated, it only works if someone takes it to a vet — which most people won't, because most people will think they found a wild turtle instead. This is true. Most people do not know the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. 

In my quest to find Oscar, despite me asking people, "Have you found a tortoise?" They always reply with turtle, even after I specifically just stated tortoise. 

Also, I'm starting to come to accept the real possibility that if someone found him, they might want to keep him. It's not the same as a dog or a cat, which are readily available for free on Craigslist, or multiple shelters. Russian tortoises usually cost you around $100-$200. Oscar was $110 and unlike all the options of getting a free dog or cat, you usually can't get a free tortoise (although you definitely can get a free turtle by hanging around a pond somewhere).

Secondly, I've seen many people find box turtles in their yards and then decide to keep them as pets. This is making me realize the fact that someone might be reluctant to give up a free "turtle" they think they've found (finders keepers, losers weepers); especially one that does not require a lot of husbandry compared to a cat or dog — and unless you're getting a sulcata, tortoises are generally small reptiles that you can keep just about anywhere.

I lost Oscar because I refused to put him in the same type of fish tank that he was living in with 4 other tortoises when I bought him from the local Pet Land store. 

I tried putting him in a large wooden planter, a mini patio pond that I filled with soil, and even those huge plastic storage containers — but ultimately, I wanted him to have free range of the yard because the most space you can provide, the better. Unfortunately, I got lax with making sure that he was secured in the yard at all times, which includes constantly making sure the gates are properly latched shut — especially since the kids are in the yard all the time now because it's summer.

Mostly, I feel that people are reluctant to give up a found tortoise because they are actually very cute when you find them. 

Like, people actually will go and pick up a box turtle they find walking around and take it home because it's just cute when you find them in the street or in your yard (and they'll do the same for a lost pet tortoise too). So it's reasonable to assume that it's probably the same outcome if Oscar was discovered by someone.

I just hope that he's living his best life in the woods of Fort Campbell, but if not, I hope that they don't put him in water thinking he's a turtle!

The most I can hope for is to continue to post signs all over the neighborhood so that hopefully Oscar is found if he is still out there, or if he has been found that the person feels enough guilt to return him.