By Canadian Press

Coming out of its shell: Owner IDs tortoise found roaming Edmonton streets

Jul 26, 2018 | 11:00 AM

EDMONTON — There was no sign of a hare when an 11-kilogram tortoise was found roaming free in Edmonton before he was eventually identified by its owner.

The Animal Care and Control Centre says the tortoise was discovered north of the city’s downtown on Wednesday night.

Tanya Laughren, the centre’s community relations adviser , says someone saw him and thought he shouldn’t be out on his own.

The centre says that unlike a cat or dog, the tortoise didn’t have a microchip to help find his owner.

The tortoise — named Torty — looked quite proud of himself, surrounded, by his rescuers, in a photo posted on the centre’s Facebook page.

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The post was shared extensively and Torty’s owner contacted the centre.

“We’ve been able to identify someone who we think is the owner. We haven’t made complete confirmation yet, but hopefully the owner will be able to come in this weekend,” Laughren told CTV Edmonton.

The desert tortoise, estimated to be about 10 years old, hangs out in the yard and it’s believed he might have escaped through a hole in the fence or when a gate was left open.

“At first (the owner) thought it was stolen,” Laughren said. “You do have to be careful and always supervise your pets. But they are thrilled to hear Tort is here and Tort is safe.”

Laughren said the centre has found stray turtles before, but Torty is the biggest one so far.

Torty is enjoying tomatoes and lettuce under a heat lamp until his owner claims him this weekend.

(CTV Edmonton, The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Coming out of its shell: Owner IDs tortoise found roaming Edmonton streets

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