FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT (Dover, New Hampshire) 22 August 07 Rochester family begs for return of missing Roberta Jane (Aaron Sanborn)
Rochester: Patricia Lavertu has five cats, two dogs, one rabbit and several hermit crabs, but it's the missing pet turtle that has her shell-shocked.
Roberta Jane, the Lavertu's beloved 5-inch handicapped turtle, was stolen early Saturday morning from a tank in the backyard of the family's Madison Avenue home. Lavertu fears that Roberta Jane will die if she isn't returned soon.
Roberta Jane is handicapped because she's missing her front right leg and several toes from her back legs. She also has a wound on her head that Lavertu described as being the size of a dime and requiring medication once a day.
"She can't hunt on her own or run away from predators," Lavertu said. "She will die if tossed into a river or anywhere else."
Roberta Jane has been a part of the Lavertu family since she was left in their yard three years ago, Lavertu said. The family immediately took her in, which is nothing unusual, given the family's propensity for pet rescue.
"We've rescued animals that people have just abandoned, we're the family that takes in the pets no one wants," Lavertu said.
She immediately fell in love with the turtle, not only because of its disabilities, but because she had a "tremendous personality."
"She likes to watch cartoons. If someone blocks her view of the television, she'll stand on her handicapped legs and moves her head."
Robert Jane also stands on her legs and begs for food like a dog and responds to her name, Lavertu said.
The turtle is usually housed in a 50-gallon tank inside the family's home, but will sometimes sleep in the backyard so Roberta Jane can sun herself. Lavertu said she put the turtle out late Friday afternoon and checked on it Friday evening.
"She was swimming and looked like she was happy out there so I left her overnight," Lavertu said. "When I went to check on her Saturday morning she was gone."
None of the bushes near Roberta Jane's tank were disturbed, leading Lavertu to believe that an animal didn't attack Roberta Jane. Instead, she believes a human is the culprit.
Lavertu said she understands that some people may question the importance of a pet turtle, but said she, her husband and three kids, ages 8, 15, 18, all considered Robert Jane as part of the family. Each is devastated by the loss, she said.
"We've had bikes stolen before but no one has ever harmed any of our animals," Lavertu said. "We're heartbroken that someone would come onto our property and harm a member of our family."
Police were notified about Roberta Jane's disappearance, but Lavertu said she believes public assistance is the best way to solve the case.
"I just miss her to pieces," she said. "I just want her back, I won't prosecute anyone, we just want her home."
Roberta Jane is described as having a snakehead with yellow lines; she also has a white wound the size of a dime on her head. Her most notable features are the missing front leg and missing toes from her back legs.
Anyone with information about Roberta Jane's whereabouts is asked to contact Lavertu at (603) 978-6127. The animal can also be returned to the family's home at 22 Madison Avenue, the Police Station or Lavertu's veterinarians at the Animal Health Center on Rochester Hill Road. A cash reward will be offered for the turtle's safe return.
Rochester family begs for return of missing Roberta Jane