Target: Kelly Higgins, Criminal District Attorney of Hays County, Texas.
Goal: Fully investigate the tortoise’s abandonment and, if evidence confirms neglect or cruelty, file all appropriate charges and seek meaningful penalties including restitution, mandatory education, and an ownership ban.
A solitary tortoise was found wandering and later taken in by a local shelter for safety. Slow-moving and unable to flee danger, this animal was exposed to extreme risks—dehydration in summer heat, starvation, and the very real possibility of being crushed by traffic. Such circumstances often arise from abandonment or negligent failure to contain and care for a companion animal, leaving a defenseless creature to suffer alone.
The finder appealed for the rightful guardian to come forward and prove ownership. In situations like this, authorities should promptly ascertain whether the tortoise was dumped, chronically underfed, or denied veterinary care. Observable red flags—such as a sunken body condition, shell damage, overgrown beak or nails, and parasite load—can indicate prolonged neglect, and they must be documented to protect the animal and support any ensuing case.
Animals are not disposable. When a tortoise is left to fend for itself, the law must respond decisively. Sign below to demand a thorough investigation to identify any responsible party and, if evidence supports intentional abandonment or neglect, result in appropriate charges. Upon conviction, consequences should include fines, restitution to the shelter for medical costs, mandatory animal-care education, and a prohibition on owning animals to prevent future harm.
PETITION LETTER:
District Attorney Higgins,
A tortoise was found wandering alone and taken to safety, a dangerous situation for a slow-moving animal vulnerable to dehydration, starvation, and vehicle strikes. These facts raise serious concerns of abandonment or neglect that warrant immediate scrutiny.
We respectfully urge your office to ensure a complete investigation that verifies the animal’s condition and history. If evidence establishes that this tortoise was intentionally abandoned or otherwise mistreated, we ask that you file all appropriate charges and pursue consequences that reflect the gravity of the suffering inflicted.
Meaningful accountability— including restitution for veterinary care, mandatory animal-care education, and an ownership ban—would send a clear message that leaving an animal to suffer is unacceptable. Please act to secure justice for this tortoise and deter future cruelty.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Charles J. Sharp
