My friend loves archer and convinced me to start watching I’m on like episode 4 or 5 and all I can say is I DO NOT like when they are mean to Pam especially archer it’s making me not like him very much such an egotistical guy needs to be nicer
I need advice about my red-foot tortoise and whether rehoming is the right thing to do
Hi everyone. I’m really nervous posting this and I don’t even know if this is the right place to post this but I’m honestly embarrassed and scared people are going to judge me, but I really need some advice from people who understand tortoises.
I have a red-footed tortoise named Brittany. I’ve had her for almost 5 years now, since she was very young. When I first got her, I was honestly the best owner I could be. I took her outside all the time when the weather allowed (we live in North Dakota, so that can be difficult), I spent tons of time with her, played with her, fed her, and made sure she had a really good enclosure that met her needs. She was a huge part of my life.
Over the last few years, though, my life has changed a lot. My mental health has gotten really bad, and I’ve been dealing with an eating disorder, substance abuse issues, and other struggles. I’m at a point where I’m having a hard time taking care of myself, and because of that, I feel like I’m not being the owner Brittany deserves.
As she’s gotten bigger, her needs have also gotten bigger. Her enclosure has become harder and more expensive to maintain, I don’t take her outside nearly as often as I used to, and I don’t give her as much attention and enrichment as I did when I first got her. I still take care of her and make sure she has food and her basic needs met, but I know I’m not doing as much as I wish I could.
Something else that really bothers me is that about a year ago, I was letting her roam around the house like I normally did because she enjoyed it. I stepped away for a moment, and when I came back I didn’t see her and accidentally kicked her. She wasn’t seriously hurt, but ever since then she seems more scared of me. I’ve tried hand feeding her and spending time with her to rebuild her trust, but I feel like our bond isn’t what it used to be.
Recently, I posted her online because I thought maybe finding her a better home would be the right thing to do. But now that people are actually reaching out, I’m realizing how much I don’t want to lose her. I love her so much, and the thought of her not being with me hurts. At the same time, I keep thinking that if I truly love her, I should want what’s best for her, even if that means letting someone else give her the life I’m struggling to provide.
I think part of what makes this so hard is that rehoming her feels like admitting I failed her. I don’t want people to think I’m a bad owner or that I don’t care about her, because I really do. I’ve tried my best, but my circumstances have changed a lot and I don’t know what the right choice is anymore.
I’m not posting this to make excuses or get sympathy. I genuinely want advice from people who know tortoises. Brittany is a red-footed tortoise and she is almost 5 years old.
For anyone who has experience with red-foots: how do you know when rehoming is the right choice? Is it possible to rebuild trust with a tortoise after they become more fearful? Are there affordable ways I can improve her quality of life and meet her needs better?
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this. I really appreciate any advice.
Ok guys zip to zap pt2 when