Can I Keep Him?

Posted on September 1st, 2008 by admin

Puuuuuuhhhhhhhhlllllllleeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeee!!!!

That’s what kids say when they find a stray little animal that they want to keep. And by kids I mean 23 year old females who have an unusual affinity for all non-human living beings.

I’ve been an animal lover my entire life. I used to cry because I wanted a horse and never got one. Horses were my true love. I will have one or five someday. And I also have always loved dogs. I used to attempt to train the dogs that happened to find their way to our farm. I have had a few dogs myself (before Hurley) that I have loved very much. I’ll have to do a post or two about them someday.

I honestly don’t understand why or how it can be that some people don’t like animals. Did you know this!? That some people don’t like animals of any kind. That is just so foreign to me. I don’t get it. I can understand if they were possibly mauled by a dog or large salmon or something, but some people have just never liked animals. What kind of heart do you have if you can resist the sweet kisses of a puppy or kitten? I know. A cold, black heart that is made of stone. Are you one of those people? How do you live with yourself? I don’t know…maybe I’m the weird one.

Growing up on a farm meant that I had a lot of opportunities to be around animals. Cows, horses (not my own!), dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, calves, wild animals, etc. I always like to be outside and hanging out with the animals. I’ve attempted to nurse various animals back to health (bunnies, birds, rejected kittens and so on). I just can’t bear to see an animal suffering or in danger. I feel so bad when I see a stray on the side of the road. I also have an uncanny ability to spot animals. I can spot hawks in a tree a mile away. I even feel bad for the pigeons with broken wings that hang around parking lots. I was a little sad when moving to Houston a year ago. I knew that I would be in the City. No wild animals. Only city folk. Who don’t enjoy being scratched behind the ears. And although I don’t get as much animal interaction in the City as I did living in the country, I’m happy to tell you that I’ve been able to pet my fair share of animals. Unfortunately they haven’t been of the cute and furry type.

You remember the post I did about a little snakethat I found in the parking lot of our apartment complex.

Man handling this snake was not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It turned out not to be poisonous, but there are apparently similar looking snakes in this area that are. I was smart enough to pull a Steve Irwin and grab it by the head so it wasn’t able to bite. That was the first time that I had ever captured a snake. Pretty cool. Tasted like chicken. Kidding. He was released unharmed.

Then we had this little guyinside our apartment one evening. Geckos, especially this type, are common in Texas. He was climbing on our wall in the kitchen when we spotted him. Geckos have cool little feet that allow them to go anywhere. I captured him and released him back into the wild blue yonder that is our manicured lawn. His name was Jose. He enjoys salsa dancing and long walks on the beach.

And now to introduce you to possibly my favorite little Texas creature. I found this little guy a couple of weeks ago. he was wandering the sidewalks at work. I was on my way back to my office when I spotted him. Remember…my uncanny ability to spot even the smallest animal?

Lewis

I knew I couldn’t let him wander the sidewalks. It was ten million degrees outside and I didn’t want one of the residents to step on him. Or squash him with their walker. Or pick him up and attempt to eat him. Or try to dress him in baby clothes. They’re an unpredictable group, let me tell ya. So I picked him up with my jacket and carried him back to my office. Then I put him in a styrofoam cup and took him home. I was so excited to show off my find to T and Big A who was here on vacation. “Look what I got!!!!” T suddenly got a worried look on his face. That sentence usually means one of two things. I’ve either brought home another animal or I’ve spent an ungodly amount of money on something I didn’t need. It’s usually the animal.

Put me down!

Isn’t he cute! His little turtle feet had claws. They weren’t sharp. Since he was small, I assumed that he was a helpless baby. I really had no idea…but I assume that all small animals are babies.

Red-Eared Slider

After a little investigation via the web I’ve determined that Lewis (I name all animals immediately upon meeting them) is in fact a Red-Eared Slider. See his red ears? Or the red color where I’m assuming his ears are. As you can see in the background, Hurley was very interested in this little guy. He also loves animals. Especially ones that are small enough to put in his mouth.

Austin Reptile Service has this to say about his species.

RED-EARED SLIDER, Trachemys scripta elegans
Red-eared Sliders range across all of Texas except for the far-western region. They are easily identified by the red stripe found just behind the eye. Females can grow to be over 1 foot in length but males are smaller. These turtles are aquatic and feed mostly on plants as adults. While they very seldom venture out on land, they can frequently be seen basking on logs in the sunshine.

I knew it! I knew that he shouldn’t be out wandering the sidewalks. He needs water. How the heck did he end up on the sidewalk? Maybe he was about to be hawk food when he was dropped. I have no idea. Thank god I was there to save him. After a thorough investigation (checking out his feet, touching his skin, poking at his head to watch him retreat into his shell, and watching him crawl around, and a quick look from Chief……

Chief and Lewis

…I decided to set him free. In my head though, I had visions of Lewis and I enjoying a beautiful life together. I could get him a little aquarium and a little bowl of water to swim in and a dish for turtle food whatever that may be. But I didn’t even ask. I didn’t ask T if it was OK to keep him. I knew what the answer would be. So I spared myself the pain and agony and did what I felt was right for Lewis. I drove to the swampy area that’s behind our apartment complex and tossed (gently) him into the swamp. He landed in some really tall grass and I didn’t think that he could move around enough to actually get to the water. So I climbed in and found him in the grass and then gave him a more vigorous toss and he landed in the water. I’m assuming that the resident turtles took Lewis into their pack as one of their own. I bet Lewis is living the high life right now. Soakin up the rays…suckin down brewskies…throwin bows at the clubs. Whatever he’s doing I know he’s thankful that I was there to rescue him.

Or maybe he was brutally dismembered by a hawk or something.