ADOPTED TORTOISES AND BOX TURTLES
Tank
Tank came into the rescue in the summer of 2022. His owners were moving to Colorado and could not take him with them. He was surrendered to us in the hope we would find him a perfect forever home. The Aitchison family in Cameron, MO reached out to me about adopting a Russian tortoise for their son. Normally we are not quick to adopt to someone seeking a turtle for a gift, but in this case their son had been researching for quite some time about the care involved with Russian tortoises. He is a smart, committed young man who loved Russian tortoises. I think Tank is going to be very well loved and cared for.
RoWan
Rowan arrived at the rescue in 2021 after his owner died and he could no longer stay with the owners daughter who inherited him. She was sad to part with him, but there was growing conflict between Rowan and a sulcata that she has. We were happy to take Rowan into the rescue and eventually the decision was made to find him a home. Stacy B. from St. Clair, MO made the trip to our rescue to adopt Rowan. She currently has an Aldabra and Star Tortoise as well as a few others. She has experience and acreage for large tortoises to graze. I think Rowan found a good forever home.
Frankie
Frankie came into the rescue from Kansas City, MO. His owner was concerned she could no longer provide enough space or attention to him. He is such a sweet little tortoise and we had no trouble finding him a forever home almost immediately after he arrived at the rescue. Tiffany S. and her son were excited to welcome Frankie into their home. He will have a nice large yard for roaming and grazing and winter will be spent in their home getting all the love.
Taco
Taco came into the rescue in 2018 as a thirteen year old, 44 pound sulcata. She has been adopted out once, and returned to the rescue when it didn't work out with those owners. Then two other individuals were interested in her and at the last minute decided they could not take her. She is a wonderfully sweet tortoise who deserved a great forever home. We are happy to share that she is finally in a new home with people that will love and care for her. She will have over an acre of land in southern Missouri to roam and explore with lots of grass and yard weeds for grazing. We wish Taco and her new owners a long happy life together.
Franklin & Ulysses
Toni C. runs an animal rescue and boarding facility for dogs. She reached out to us about adopting a tortoise, preferably a sulcata. We told her about Ulysses and she was anxious to meet him. After giving her the tour of our rescue she met Franklin as well and she decided to adopt them both. Franklin came to us in 2020 after being found roaming around a St. Louis neighborhood. Efforts were made to locate his family and after several weeks the person who found him could no longer keep him and arrangements were made to get him to us. We are happy he has a forever home now. Ulysses came from Texas, his owners were getting older and it was becoming difficult for them to care for such a large tortoise. Their son traveled from Kansas City to Texas to bring Ulysses back to us. He now has a home with acreage to roam and grow.
Little Foot
Cephas arrived at the rescue from St. Louis. His owner Adam M. contacted us concerned because the little hatchling arrived to him sickly. He had taken it to the veterinarian who suspected he had an upper respiratory infection. Antibiotics were prescribed and Adam was afraid the little guy would perish on his watch. He wanted someone with more experience to take him. We were happy to help. After several weeks he healed and was doing much better. One of our volunteers Paige J. fell in love with Cephas and adopted him. She changed his name to Little Foot and completely spoils him! He has found such an amazing home!
Nelly
Nelly, a little three-toed box turtle arrived at the rescue in 2020 after being found in an aquarium in the backyard of a property where she was abandoned at. The new home owners reached out and brought her to us. We were so happy when Samantha T. from St. Louis reached out about adopting one of our box turtles. We knew Nelly would be a good fit for their family. She will be wanted, loved and not abandoned again.
Cesar
Linda Russell from Maitland, MO had previously adopted a Russian tortoise from our rescue. She reached out and said they were ready to add a larger sulcata to their household. After filling out an application they came to meet Cesar. Cesar arrived at the rescue from St. Louis because his owners were moving back to India when their school Visa expired. Cesar will have a nice, loving home with a yard to roam in and children to grow up with.
Crush
Debbie P. from Edgerton, MO contacted our rescue about adopting a Russian tortoise after falling in love with the one who older daughter owns. After multiple conversations about housing and diet she was ready to make the commitment and she adopted Crush. Crush came into the rescue in 2019 when his owner could not get him to eat. It was discovered he was ill. After antibiotics and diet adjustments he began eating like a champ. Debbie and her family are committed to caring for Crush and loving him to a ripe old age.
Dave
Michelle F. reached out to us about adopting a red-footed tortoise. We told her about Dave who came to the rescue from Springfield, MO. She was interested in meeting him and potentially adopting him. After reviewing her application she made the trip from Fulton, MO (near St. Louis). This will be one spoiled tortoise!
Sage & Grace
All Hayden wanted for his 14th birthday was a sulcata tortoise. Living in Georgia they had contacted local rescues but had no luck locating one that had sulcatas available. They reached out to me and filled out an application. Hayden, his mother and stepfather made the 16+ hour drive to adopt not one but two of our sulcata tortoises. Sage & Grace will now be living in Georgia on some acreage getting lots of love from their new owner. Thank you Hayden for your commitment to learning all about these large tortoises. I know you will have many happy years with them.
hamburger
Hamburger, a large male sulcata that came into the rescue from Minnesota found a new home in Kansas. Tim R. adopted Hamburger and he will now have a 2,000 square foot solarium to roam around in as well as a nice large yard. We are always happy when our tortoises find great forever homes. We know what a challenge these bigger guys can be and we are so appreciative to those who are up for the challenge and are able to provide them the unique long term care they need.
pumpkin
Jessica W. contacted me about adopting a tortoise for her son who was turning 9 and has an obsession with turtles. After several conversations to make sure they were ready as a family to take on a new tortoise member, they set up a time to let their son Alec come meet Pumpkin. Alec fell in love immediately and they made arrangements for us to hold Pumpkin so they could get the proper indoor enclosure in place and ready. I am happy to report Pumpkin is now living in Maryville, MO with his new owner Alec and is adjusting well.
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NOLDBERG
Eliza and her young son Caleb drove from Omaha to meet and adopt our Russian Tortoise Noldberg. He was surrendered to our rescue last year when his owners could not get him to eat. Often Russian Tortoises are wild caught and struggle to acclimate to captivity. After getting him hydrated and treated for parasites he perked up and began eating. This healthy, happy, shy Russian tortoise has now found his forever home.
Ares
This young Sulcatta tortoise came to the rescue and was here less than a day before being adopted by a Veterinarian technician who has always wanted a tortoise. She was given the name Ares and is adjusting to her new home nicely.
Sooki
Sooki is a Russian tortoise that arrived at the rescue several months ago. She came in with another male Russian tortoise named Steve. When we heard these two young people were wanting to adopt a small tortoise we knew we had found the perfect home for her.
Henry
Henry is a large male Sulcatta tortoise who came to the rescue all the way from Minnesota. His owners loved him, but could no longer keep him. He has been with us for several months and the decision was made to adopt him into a forever home. This allows us to take in more tortoises in need. Henry went to a wonderful hobby farm near Kansas City with a great family who will love and care for him. He will even have a pig and a goat to hang out with. We love it when we can find the right families for these amazing animals.
Steve
Braxton knew how much his girlfriend Rebecca loved tortoises (all turtles really), and he very much wanted to give her one for her birthday this year. He reached out to us and after several emails and a visit to our place we found the perfect fit for her. She was so surprised by Braxton’s gift and was thrilled to be taking Steve our Russian tortoise home with her. We here at Tortoise Run Farm are so happy that Steve will have a very happy forever home with someone who loves him and wants to learn about him.
Seymour
Seymour came to the rescue last summer. Her owners could no longer keep her. We were fortunate to find a perfect forever home for her, and wish her a long happy life in Iowa.
Ted
Barb and her Mother drove nearly three hours to adopt Ted, one of our male Sulcatta tortoises. Ted will be a classroom pet/education animal during much of the school year and then will spend his summers on vacation, eating all the grass and dandelions he can handle. We are so happy Ted will be an ambassador of his kind. GO TED!
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UPDATE: We received the picture to the far right of Ted cruising the halls at the school where his new owner works. We love knowing Ted is going to be an educational animal and reach tons of people with his sweet, charming personality.
Hank
Linda Russell and her family were looking to add a tortoise to their growing animal farm. They love turtles and felt a Russian tortoise was a good fit for them. Hank is now with a loving forever home.
