Stray tortoise turmoil addressed by Humane Society and former owner
Sam the tortoise, who was found in Burnet on the morning of Thursday, July 9, was put under Hill Country Humane Society’s watch after being captured by a Burnet police officer. Staff photo by Caden Senn
The Hill Country Humane Society Board of Directors and a former pet owner have each issued statements regarding mounting online discourse stemming from a loose tortoise taken in by the humane society in July. The feud has escalated to digital threats and accusations of thievery, with both sides claiming the other is in the wrong.
The tortoise, now identified as an African spurred tortoise named Sam, was initially found roaming Burnet at around 7 a.m. on July 9, where he was subsequently captured by a Burnet police officer and sent to the humane society.
The HCHS claims to have held the tortoise under its care for eight days before getting clearance from law enforcement to adopt him out, and proceeded to transfer ownership to the adopter. Legally, a stray animal only has to be held for 72 hours before it can be put up for adoption.
Following the adoption, the tortoise’s former owner, Burnet resident Jesse Leftwich, came forward and requested that the shelter help reunite them. The shelter, however, could not legally disclose the adopter’s identity, and the adopter allegedly declined to return the tortoise according to the humane society.
Leftwich, who owned the tortoise for decades, alleged that Sam was stolen from his property while he and his family were on a trip, but they didn’t realize the tortoise was missing for several days. He claimed that his wife contacted the shelter on July 14 to inquire about Sam, five days after the animal was taken in by the Humane Society. In various Facebook posts since the tortoise’s rehoming, he has called on the HCHS and its director, Paighton Corley, to return the tortoise.
Online discourse surrounding the reptile came to a boiling point after multiple comments under Facebook posts seemingly threatened Corley with “real life recon, search and rescue,” at her home, and suggesting the “Burnet Police Department should pay her a midnight visit.”
In response to the roiling online commentary, the HCHS Board of Directors issued a statement on Friday, Aug. 28, that included the following:
“Despite repeated explanations to the former owner (Jesse Leftwich) from HCHS and law enforcement, false accusations have continued and escalated.
“(Corley) has been publicly identified and tagged, confronted at the shelter, and falsely accused of keeping the tortoise at her residence.
“Information about her private home and property has also been circulated.
“The tortoise is not, and has never been, at this staff member’s residence.
“Directing people toward her home while encouraging such conduct has created a genuine and serious threat to safety.”
On Monday, Aug. 31, DailyTrib staff reached out to Leftwich for a statement in response to the directors’ statement, and he said the following:
“Many people on social media have understandably expressed anger and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Sam’s disappearance, his handling after he was found, and his subsequent adoption.
“I have made every effort to share information that has been reported to me, including information that I have not independently been able to verify, because my primary goal has always been a safe and peaceful reunion with Sam.
“I want to be very clear: I have never called for, encouraged, or desired illegal actions, threats, harassment, or intimidation toward anyone associated with Hill Country Humane Society, the person who adopted Sam, or anyone else involved.
“Whatever questions remain about what happened, my family does not want conflict. We want Sam home.”