Joyful owners claim their errant tortoise - Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on May 26, 2000 at 10:55:05:

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS (California) 26 May 00 Joyful owners claim their errant tortoise (Lisa Fernandez)
The three-foot-long African spurred tortoise found wandering the streets of Menlo Park earlier this week had a joyful reunion with its owners Thursday when they claimed it at a veterinary clinic.
The exotic tortoise -- nicknamed Frankie -- apparently had gotten lost after escaping from his back yard.
"We are really fortunate to get him back," Greg Spalasso, 24, said of the 40-year-old, 46-pound tortoise. "He's so cool. I've never had a cooler pet."
The tortoise was found meandering down a sidewalk Tuesday by a Menlo Park couple walking their dog on Fremont Street. Two police officers hoisted the tortoise into their car and it was taken to the veterinary clinic when Peninsula Humane Society officials noticed it was wheezing.
Spalasso and his brother, Bobby, arrived at the Wildwood Veterinary Hospital in Portola Valley on Thursday carrying a welcome basket filled with lettuce, bananas and three tomatoes for their pet.
Frankie appeared shy -- his head barely protruding from his shell - in front of a media swarm trying to capture the reunion.
The Spalassos have been worried sick since they noticed Frankie -- named after a family friend who runs slowly -- was gone from their back yard Tuesday. They believe a gardener may have inadvertently left the gate open.
When a family friend heard news reports about a wayward tortoise, the Spalasso family figured it might be their beloved beast.
They met with Humane Society officials Thursday morning, proving the reptile was theirs by showing old family photos. The Spalasso brothers have had Frankie for three years, since inheriting it from their father when he died.
They had been concerned that animal lovers around the country, who had heard news reports about the wayward tortoise, would claim the animal first. People had called from as far away as New Mexico offering to adopt the creature.
The African spurred tortoise -- more properly called Geochelone sulcata -- normally lives in the sub-Saharan desert scrubland. It can live up to 150 years and weigh 250 pounds.
Humane Society spokesman Scott Delucchi says he does not encourage people to own such exotic animals because they need warm temperatures and lots of food to keep them healthy. But Greg Spalasso says his family takes perfect care of Frankie, allowing him to roam around in the back yard, burrowing under bushes and warming up in a heated shed.
They took him home from the vet clinic Thursday after promising to inject him with a daily dose of antibiotics to treat the reptile's respiratory problems.
"What's so great about him," Spalasso said, "is that we'll have him for maybe 150 years. My kids' kids might be taking care of Frankie."

Joyful owners claim their errant tortoise

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: SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS (California) 26 May 00 Joyful owners claim their errant tortoise (Lisa Fernandez) : The three-foot-long African spurred tortoise found wandering the streets of Menlo Park earlier this week had a joyful reunion with its owners Thursday when they claimed it at a veterinary clinic. : The exotic tortoise -- nicknamed Frankie -- apparently had gotten lost after escaping from his back yard. : "We are really fortunate to get him back," Greg Spalasso, 24, said of the 40-year-old, 46-pound tortoise. "He's so cool. I've never had a cooler pet." : The tortoise was found meandering down a sidewalk Tuesday by a Menlo Park couple walking their dog on Fremont Street. Two police officers hoisted the tortoise into their car and it was taken to the veterinary clinic when Peninsula Humane Society officials noticed it was wheezing. : Spalasso and his brother, Bobby, arrived at the Wildwood Veterinary Hospital in Portola Valley on Thursday carrying a welcome basket filled with lettuce, bananas and three tomatoes for their pet. : Frankie appeared shy -- his head barely protruding from his shell - in front of a media swarm trying to capture the reunion. : The Spalassos have been worried sick since they noticed Frankie -- named after a family friend who runs slowly -- was gone from their back yard Tuesday. They believe a gardener may have inadvertently left the gate open. : When a family friend heard news reports about a wayward tortoise, the Spalasso family figured it might be their beloved beast. : They met with Humane Society officials Thursday morning, proving the reptile was theirs by showing old family photos. The Spalasso brothers have had Frankie for three years, since inheriting it from their father when he died. : They had been concerned that animal lovers around the country, who had heard news reports about the wayward tortoise, would claim the animal first. People had called from as far away as New Mexico offering to adopt the creature. : The African spurred tortoise -- more properly called Geochelone sulcata -- normally lives in the sub-Saharan desert scrubland. It can live up to 150 years and weigh 250 pounds. : Humane Society spokesman Scott Delucchi says he does not encourage people to own such exotic animals because they need warm temperatures and lots of food to keep them healthy. But Greg Spalasso says his family takes perfect care of Frankie, allowing him to roam around in the back yard, burrowing under bushes and warming up in a heated shed. : They took him home from the vet clinic Thursday after promising to inject him with a daily dose of antibiotics to treat the reptile's respiratory problems. : "What's so great about him," Spalasso said, "is that we'll have him for maybe 150 years. My kids' kids might be taking care of Frankie." :

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