Tippy the terrapin found near recycling centre

A Terrapin has been found abandoned near a rubbish tip in the Edinburgh.

SSPCA staff are nursing Tippy the terrapin back to health after the animal was found abandoned near a recycling centre. Pic: contributed

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information the terrapin was found after a woman walking her dog spotted the creature on a grass verge close to the recycling point on Old Dalkeith Road on Saturday.

The female yellow bellied terrapin, nicknamed Tippy by Scottish SPCA staff, is now being looked after at the charity’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Balerno.

Senior Inspector Jenny Scott said: “Terrapins need heat and water to survive and Tippy would soon have perished had she gone undiscovered.

“At this stage we don’t know whether she has been deliberately abandoned, although it seems quite likely.

“Just last month we warned people not to be tempted to buy a terrapin following the release of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film.

“Terrapins require a considerable amount of time and commitment and can live for up to 60 years so the decision to take one on shouldn’t be made

lightly.

“If anyone knows who may have owned Tippy we would ask them to contact us to help us with our investigation.

“Tippy is around 10 inches in size and in good condition. We’ll look after her until we can find her a loving new home.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.