News & Updates

Northwest Tortoise will be taking an extended break from social media. For months, if not years, I’ve been at and beyond burnt out. I’m exhausted and there’s no joy left for me. Additionally, now that I’ve stopped taking in tortoises, my larger donors have stopped supporting me. I’ll admit, this hurts, but that’s the reality of rescue. If I can’t provide a constant stream of new rescues, people get bored. To borrow a phrase from the news industry, “if it […]

Case study: Greek Ibera (owner surrender) Symptoms upon intake: The tortoise went missing on Feb. 1, 2018 and was missing until May 23, 2018. It is assumed during this time the tortoise was exposed to the elements. The tortoise was severely emaciated including muscle atrophy. The shell showed signs of predator attack. He could not use his legs properly causing him to shuffle in circles. Additionally his neck muscles were too damaged to hold his head up. Eyes were glassy […]

June 23 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Northwest Tortoise will be at the Kennewick branch of the Mid-Columbia Library. I need volunteers to be ‘tortoise models.’ Time commitment would be 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tortoise models will be responsible for displaying my tortoises to the kids at the event. Kids will be able to touch, but not hold, the tortoises. I’ll provide information about the individual tortoise and no experience is necessary. Responsible kids (probably over 10 years) […]

I’m sorry to have to announce that until further notice I cannot take in any more rescues. I wish I didn’t have to write this post but my choices are simple: Expend all my time and energy helping torts and continue careening towards the inevitable rescuers burnout or cut intakes until I not only get my head above water, but can actually float. The need doesn’t stop. Ever. The past year I’ve turned down 2 to 6 requests a week […]