VENTURA, Calif. - An endangered pet tortoise named Bob was stolen from his home and violently mutilated, authorities said, but is recovering.
Bob was snatched from his owners’ yard last weekend, stabbed, slashed and dumped in brush behind an apartment complex, authorities said. The 42-pound African spurred tortoise was moved to a rehabilitation center this week after experts repaired his many wounds.
Police had several suspects and could make an arrest next week, officials said.
“He’s doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” said Jeanie Vaughan, owner of Turtle Dreams, the Montecito rehabilitation center.
Barring infection, “he should be all right” but may have to remain at the center through the summer, she said.
The 25-year-old tortoise belongs to Dorothy and Bill Sullivan and is a special friend of their 6-year-old autistic son, who rarely spoke to people but chattered to the animal. The Sullivans live in Ventura, which is about 65 miles west of Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast.
“They threw this 40-pound turtle against a brick wall. You could see blood where the leg was (hurt) . . . they tried to rip the leg out of the shell,” police Sgt. Jack Richards said.
Razor blades also were used to cut the leg, Richards said, but Bob’s tough hide and heavy musculature foiled that. He had three deep wounds to his neck and legs, including one that went through his thigh, along with lesser stab wounds to his shell.
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