A Cape Coral couple are on the hunt for their missing tortoise. 'Country' has been missing from their backyard since October 2nd.
"It's like any other pet," said Michael Carter, Country's owner. "We raised him from a little baby," he added.
Carter and his wife, Shelli, have taken several steps to try and secure their pet's safe return. They have posted pictures of Country on Facebook. They didn't stop there. They've even plastered the city with signs for people to keep an eye out for the 30 lb. Sulcata tortoise.
"If anybody can just look outside of their house. Look at your bushes! There could be a burrow he dug," said Shelli Carter. "He might be hiding under plants and debris because of the cooler weather," she added.
The couple's effort have been rewarded with a steady stream of tips and pictures about Country's potential whereabouts. "Every time I see my phone ring,' said Michael. "I know it's somebody about a tortoise," he added.
The couple even wound up with a tortoise that wasn't Country. Shelli picked up that tortoise in the back of the 2005 Ford Excursion and took him home. The Carters fostered it for a few days before they returned it to its rightful owner.
"That tortoise kind of messed everything up for us," said Michael about the confusion the mystery tortoise caused. "Everyone thought we found it," he added.
The family wants their own happy ending. They want Country to return to home to their trio of tortoises and pair of dogs.
"That's what got our hopes up," said Michael. "He's still out there."
If you happen to spot a tortoise out in Cape Coral, snap a picture and send it to 4 In Your Corner.
