NEWS-LEADER (Springfield, Missouri) 06 January 06 Tale of Tippy the box turtle tugs on some readers' heart strings (Sarah Overstreet)
Tippy the Terrible Terrapin soared off the News-Leader popularity chart when I wrote about him Dec. 21.
The childhood pet of Dr. Thomas Quinn, Tippy is a box turtle more than 53 years old who was in need of a new home. Quinn's mother, who kept her son's pet when he went off to college, died in late November, and Tippy would have to move from the heated basement where he'd been lovingly cared for. Quinn feared taking him home because of his pet dogs.
Tippy was so lovable, I thought of adopting him myself, if I'd thought I had the expertise and wasn't afraid my dogs would make him draw into his shell and stay there. But Tippy had nary a worry. Eight readers — those who did know something about turtle care — contacted me with offers of new homes.
Malissa Shawley, who moved here a year and a half ago from California, offered him a spot among her turtle herd. In California, the family successfully bred and raised 16 desert tortoises and 11 box turtles, she says. "We had to adopt out all of the desert tortoises as it is illegal to take them out of the desert. ... We miss them all so very much. We have created an enclosure in our back yard where our remaining turtles live and would be happy to add another."
Sounds like Shawley thinks turtles have quite the personality, huh? They do, indeed, assures Karen Furnweger, editor/content manager of Shedd's Aquarium in Chicago. "She's delightful," Furnweger says of her over-50-year-old gopher tortoise, adopted from a family that acquired her in Florida and brought her back before it was illegal to take them out of state.
"You could tell she had been a house pet," says Furnweger, who also offered Tippy some swell new digs with her turtles in the master bedroom converted to a reptile room. "Whatever I held in front of her, she would take from my fingers. Turtles are smart enough to recognize people who take care of them. ... Tortoises just have wonderful personalities; they're nice, easy-going animals. ... One little guy, my boyfriend had him out on the floor and when I came home and he saw me, he just ran to me, like 'Mom!'"
Brenda Treece of Springfield was really ready to house Tippy in the style to which he'd become accustomed. "I have a spare room that could be converted into Tippy's room so he would never have to be caged — I have a forest theme in mind," Treece said after reading Tippy's story. "He would have lots of love and attention, and healthy meals and vet visits when needed. He definitely wouldn't be lonely at our house."
But Treece was delighted when she discovered the new home that won the venerable turtle: The Wonders of Wildlife Museum. Curator Rich Collister says Tippy will spend approximately 90 days in quarantine where he'll be checked regularly by a veterinarian to assure he is free of diseases and parasites. Then, he'll either be used in educational outreach or introduced into the natural habitat for visitors to see in the museum.
Tippy seems to be adjusting quite well after 53 years in one home ... er, basement, Collister says. "He's doing fine," Collister says. "He's had a manicure," but caretakers won't start trimming his decades-old beak for a while. "Limiting stress is another part of the holding period."
Quinn is also quite happy with the match with WOW. "He'd sure crawl up to some kids!"
Tale of Tippy the box turtle tugs on some readers' heart strings