Officials from the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to a call about a slow-moving reptile on Interstate 10 near Picacho Peak, Arizona. The animal in question was identified as Stitch, a large sulcata tortoise, who was trying to cross the road. A good Samaritan who called 911 was responsible for alerting authorities to Stitch’s presence. Sgt. Steven Sekrecki helped get Stitch across the road before other officers noticed a tag on the tortoise’s shell. The tag led them to the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, located just two miles away, where Stitch had recently escaped from.
The Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is a three-generation family-owned working ostrich ranch that offers various attractions such as animal feeding, stingray viewing, and monster truck ranch tours. The ranch, featured on “Larry the Cable Guy – Only in America,” opened in 1999 with ostrich feeding as its primary offering. Today, visitors can also feed Sicilian donkeys, Nigerian dwarf goats, fallow deer, pecking ducks, and more. The ranch owners were grateful to have Stitch safely returned to them by the Arizona Department of Public Safety officials who responded to the call about the tortoise on the busy interstate.
The AZDPS officials confirmed Stitch’s identity with the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, who acknowledged that the tortoise had recently escaped their premises. The story of Stitch’s rescue was shared on social media by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, showcasing the heartwarming rescue of the slow-moving reptile. The officers involved in helping Stitch cross the road and reunite him with his owners at the ranch received praise from the public for their efforts in rescuing the stranded tortoise from a potentially dangerous situation on the highway.
Authorities highlighted the importance of community involvement in ensuring the safety of animals in distress, as illustrated by the good Samaritan who called 911 to report Stitch’s presence on the interstate. The successful rescue of the sulcata tortoise demonstrated the positive outcomes that can result from prompt and compassionate responses to calls for help involving animals in need. Both the public and officials alike expressed gratitude for the happy ending to the story of Stitch’s brief adventure outside of the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety and Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch were commended for their collaboration in safely resolving the situation and reuniting Stitch with his owners. The ranch owners were relieved to have Stitch back in their care, thanks to the quick actions of the AZDPS officers who responded to the call about the tortoise on the busy interstate. The heartwarming rescue story, shared on social media, garnered attention and praise from the public for the efforts of everyone involved in ensuring the safe return of the wandering tortoise to its home at the ranch. Stitch’s adventure on the highway served as a reminder of the importance of community involvement in animal rescue efforts and the positive outcomes that can result from teamwork and compassion.
