Rich brought a painted turtle home for me to see recently; it was venturing out into the road. I'm so glad we took it back to where it was trying to cross, and put it on the other side hopefully at its intended destination. I had read somewhere that if you encounter a turtle in the road, always put it safely on the other side in the same direction it was going. BUT first I had to observe it for awhile (because I love wildlife) so I put some water in a Rubbermaid tub with a basking rock. My elderly Lily cat was predictably unimpressed, and my young Meeshe cat was quite wary and cautious upon approaching - he wasn't quite sure what to make of this creature! Rich thought he had rescued a Box turtle, and told me if I put him in water he would surely drown. I didn't think he looked like a Box because his shell was not domed; it was rather flat, and he had long aquatic claws. I researched on the internet and determined him to indeed be a painted; he did enjoy staying underwater! All is well that ends well, and I hope he has found his home turf. I had no idea that turtles will long for their original territory forever; how sad that people don't realize this when they chose to make a pet out of a wild turle.



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Regards ~ AvaJoy
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