September 2006 was a tortoise-packed month for me. A week after getting Kobe a large female Russian came across my path who was basically abandoned by a school teacher up here. A family had been caring for her over summer break last year and when school started in the fall the mother went to return her to the teacher. Surprisingly, the teacher said she didn't want her back and indicated that if the mother left her there that she would be "disposed of". Not knowing what to do, and unable to care for her any longer, the mother brought her to the local pet store and begged them to take her off her hands. The guys that own that shop are reptile-lovers and are pretty darn awesome and so took her without a second thought. A friend of mine happened to be in there wandering around spotted her and called me immediately knowing she was a large (6.5+ inch) female. I went right over, talked to the owners, and was made a deal that I couldn't say no to. I took her home a few days later and although she has a misshapen shell and strange growth that obviously indicate improper husbandry by her former owner, she's doing great.

Where's Pashka?
There she is!

Pashka and Zoya first enjoy a tasty meal of dandelions and then it's time for a snooze.

When I first got Pashka her nails and beak were both extremely overgrown.
Pashka's shell is misshapen, as you can see in the difference in height from front to back.

Pashka had a ravenous appetite when I brought her home. She tried to eat everything in sight including her food dish and the leaf off a fake plant.

Here you can also see the slight pyramiding at the top of Pashka's shell.
Now she has a nice new home where she is well cared for and loved.