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Residents  |  Sanctuary Kids   >   Eaton

Eaton eating

Eaton eating

 

Eaton’s shell

Eaton’s shell

 

Eaton’s injured leg

Eaton’s injured leg

Eaton: The Marvel of Modern Evolution

Eaton is a 12-year-old, 45 pounds, African Sulcata Tortoise who happens to be three-legged. Or rather he has only three feet. Tragically one of his hind legs became lifeless and the foot died after having the circulation cut off to it in a horrible spring snowstorm in Colorado.

His family and the local veterinarian’s office were in a quandary about what to do with the now dragging leg. For one, tortoises do not handle anesthesia well; and second, amputating the leg of a large reptile was not a specialty of any of the vets nearby. Nobody was exactly sure what to do when Eaton took the situation into his own hands, or feet. He simply shed the foot. He no longer needed it and so it just fell off. Basically unheard of.

His family and the vets were stunned to say the least but boy did it make things easier. The area where the foot disconnected from his leg was not open, bleeding, or oozing in any way. It looked clean, dry, and completely healed over instantaneously. A friend made the comment that no wonder they’re still here and the dinosaurs are gone, they’ve figured out something pretty amazing.

Eaton is still mobile but can get tired easily. He had special needs now that his family just couldn’t keep up with, such as figuring out suitable wheels that would work in their climate and terrain. Also, winters in Colorado can be quite miserable and long and Sulcatas do not hibernate.

His family did not feel they could adequately take care of his needs and called the Best Friends Animal Society’s Help Department. They called Healing HEART Sanctuary knowing that we already had two African Sulcatas and knew how to care for them plus we obviously work with animals with disabilities.

And if it turns out that wheels work for him, he may be off to the races after all.

HHS symbol

Helping Animals & Children get back on their feet.

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