A sulcata tortoise (Geochelone [Centrochelys] sulcata) who has been living in a planned urban development since he was brought by the keeper in 2015 m
A sulcata tortoise (Geochelone [Centrochelys] sulcata) who has been living in a planned urban development since he was brought by the keeper in 2015 might have to part ways with his keeper due to the reptile being on the homeowners association’s list of prohibited pets.
Fred has been in the backyard of his keeper, Jayden Cannon, since 2015, living in the Rose Bridge neighborhood in Alabama, eating the grass in Cannon’s yard. Cannon, 17, says someone may have reported the tortoise after seeing him, but Fred has his supporters.
“He doesn’t bark, he doesn’t poop in other people’s yards, and he doesn’t get out and need to be rescued. He’s a gentle, quiet giant,” Angela Priola, Fred’s neighbor told KYMA/KECY News.
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Cannon has launched an Instagram page called save_fredthetortise in hopes that he can continue to keep their reptile where it has been living for the last eight years. The page points to a Change.org petition launched by Maria Butler, who is hoping to get 1,000 signatures in hopes of convincing the homeowner’s association board to let him keep his beloved tortoise.
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“According to the HOA, you cannot have anything other than a cat and a dog, which we have people here who have ferrets, guinea pigs, snakes,” Cannon KYMA/KECY News. The homeowner’s association apparently banned certain animals as pets in the development, but Fred was apparently staying with Cannon long before the ban took place.
You can sign the petition here and show your support for Fred!
About the Sulcata Tortoise
Th African spur-thighed tortoise is also known as the sulcata tortoise. It is a large tortoise that can exceed 100 lbs. It is native to the southern portion of the Sahara Desert in Africa and is one of the most widely captive-bred large tortoises. They are a long-lived tortoise that requires expert care and a large outdoor enclosure when they reach full size.
