Arizona pet store throws away living tortoise for no reason, a couple finds him in the dumpster, rescues and adopts him: ‘We are taking legal actions’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jul 24, 2026 6:45 AM EDT

What kind of pet store doesn't care for its pets? One that shouldn't exist, if you ask us…

If we're being completely honest, we're not even sure pet stores should exist. Sure, every pet owner needs pet supplies stores, but stores where you can buy the actual pets? We wouldn't mind skipping those.

First of all, you should always adopt and not shop. If the pet you are looking for can be found both in a pet store and in an animal shelter, do us a favor and go to the shelter first. The pawdorable creatures there are in desperate need of a home, and they shouldn't be overlooked just because they don't require a large sum of money.

Second, if the pet store is the only place you can find the pet you are looking for, like a fish, bird, hamster, or turtle, let's all just ensure that the store that sells them actually treats them right. It's so easy to just put these poor animals in cages until someone comes in and pays for them, but these sweet souls deserve to be treated right at any stage of their lives, even before they find their actual forever home.

No one knows the reason why the pet store below decided to put one of its turtles in a tiny plastic box and throw him in the trash. All we know is that a lovely couple found the terrified baby and immediately pulled him out of the dumpster. He was still very much alive, so the couple couldn't understand what led the pet store to throw him out. Regardless, they took him as far away from there as possible.

Since tortoises are protected in Arizona, which is where the pet store is located, the couple intends to seek legal action against the store. In the meantime, they decided to adopt the tiny baby and give him the best care they deserve. Below you will find the full story, including the original video and the update that followed.

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  • “I really don’t have words. This is so sad and I really don’t know much about tortoises. Local pet stores have told us in the past that they throw away things for pets because they aren’t allowed to donate it and have encouraged us to check. So every once in a while I check to see if there’s donate-able items since our local rescues are always in need. Living animals wasn’t something I expected to find. I didn’t know if I wanted to post this because I’m so disappointed in myself for not crawling in there and looking for more. I just didn’t think about it in the moment.”

  • HE LIKE MAYBE
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  • MAYBE HE'S SICK
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  • Watch the full video

    via Jaime Simpson

  • Update!

    THE TURTLE IS
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  • BUT WE ARE
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  • TAKING LEGAL ACTION
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  • "I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kind comments 🥺 To answer additional questions, the container had holes in it and I didn’t take it off immediately because I didn’t want to drop him while I was looking around and still kind of processing it. Until now, my turtle knowledge has been me growing up helping feed and learn about my neighbors turtle (the water kind). However, I HAVE DEEP DIVED into everything tortoises need as if it was a dog (and we all know how much I love my dogs). According to the exotic vet, it is a hybrid paldaris leopard tortoise. It may get bigger than most leopard tortoises. It’s a hatchling so we have a lot of caring to do for it right now! It’s eating and drinking well and is healthy. In the video there was some confusion about us trying to to figure out why they would have done that. We were not justifying, just trying to figure out where the heck their head was at kind of like how we have to do at a shelter to figure out what our next steps with an animal might be. This tortoise could live up to 100 years and get 80 to 120 pounds. So yeah, we are putting this tortoise in our Living Will as we speak. The tortoise is getting humidity and sunlight/store bought lighting. Thank you for all of the good tips. My biggest regret is not looking harder for more. This is not a cheap tortoise and it was not sick so we are assuming they have one very sick employee.. Regardless we plan on giving this baby the life it deserves. Also it needs a name if anyone has suggestions."
     

  • Watch the update here!

    via Jaime Simpson

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viral videos adoption animal rescue tortoise turtle animals pet store tiktok arizona rescue
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