Posted by Wes von Papineäu on December 10, 1999 at 16:23:34:
ASSOCIATED PRESS 06 December 99 Dutch Town Plans Turtle Shelter
Alphen Aan De Rijn, Netherlands: Turtles and tortoises have slowly crept into the hearts of the pet-loving Dutch, but a growing number of homeless reptiles has created the need for a shelter.
The Turtle and Tortoise Shelter, a family-run operation, will hold up to 5,000 turtles and tortoises in clean, warm tanks when it opens in 2001, founder Karin van den Bosch said Monday.
The group has acquired a new building for the shelter after 20 years of caring for homeless turtles in volunteers' homes in this town, about 25 miles southwest of Amsterdam.
"Most of our turtles come from people who are not prepared to care for the animals in the later stages of life,'' Van den Bosch said. "Turtles grow old and large and need lots of attention and care.''