I found this little guy in the middle of the street near my house when I was walking my dog on Tuesday. It appeared that he had been hit by a car, because his shell was broken. It was a pretty bad break too.

I took him home, and tried to glue a bit of his shell together with Elmer's glue. It took a bit but held pretty good. I had my husband call the vet hospital - he called two that were local to me, and they said that there was nothing they could do - to just simply let him go in my yard.

~

I knew if I did what they said he wouldn't have any chance of survival. He wouldn't be able to look for water or food, move away or protect himself from preditors, bugs or the elements. It's been really hot here for the past several days. I didn't believe letting him simply go was the option, or the Christian - Godly - thing to do.

I put him or her in an old aquarium that I had. I gave him some food and water, and put him in the Lord's hands. I named him Milo. He tried to drink a bit of water.

I was hopeful on Wednesday, and noticed that it seemed that he tried to eat a bit of food that I had given him. He was alert, and was trying to move around a bit. It seemed that his bleeding had stopped. He was bleeding pretty badly from his injury.

I was worried about his back legs, and couldn't tell if any were broken.

I understood that he might not make it. I heard when I was younger that if a turtle had their shell broken that they would die.

Milo didn't show that to be wrong. I only had him about 23 hours. He didn't survive his injuries.

Turtles are really cool creatures, and have always been fond of them. I've rescued a few that I have found in the middle of the street - usually around this time of year. I'm not sure why. They almost appear to be rocks in the street, and you cannot tell that it's a turtle unfortuately until you are almost on top of them.

It saddens me that Milo didn't make it, but I am happy that I was able to make him comfortable for the short time that I had him. I don't regret trying to help him.

I've tried to now slow down while driving, and am reminded once again to be mindful of the unfortunate creatures that end up in the street. (Young birds are terrible for staying in the street as well. I see many animals that have been hit - groundhogs and squirrels are especially terrible for grazing along or in the street.

Be mindful of the foolish creatures that wander too close, or in, to the street.