For Immediate Release

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Athol Police Return Runaway Tortoise to its Home

ATHOL — Chief Russell T. Kleber reports that the Athol Police Department has returned a runaway tortoise to its owner after it was located in town earlier this evening.

At 6:40 p.m., an Athol Police officer located a 40 pound African spurred tortoise on Partridgeville Road and subsequently offered the animal lettuce in order to lure it closer.

After a brief investigation, police learned that the 6-year-old tortoise belongs to an Athol resident, and was more than a mile from its home when it was found.

Following coordination with New England Aquarium, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Animal Control Officer Jennifer Arsenault, Athol Police safely returned the tortoise to its owner.

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