Dr. Doolittle -- out of his shell

Ellen McCarty

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- A small, earthy-hued turtle rested in the corner of

its pen Monday at Casa de Tortuga.

Like many turtles living in the house at 10455 Circulo de Zapata, this

one is exotic, but not because of its species.

The reptile moves on three legs and a wheel that was surgically attached

to its body three weeks ago after a dog gnawed off its fourth leg.

Owner Walter Allen has collected turtles, both abused and healthy, from

around the world since 1967, when he nursed two sick turtles he found at

a pet shop. He eventually designated one of his houses in the La Colonia

Juarez neighborhood for the slow-moving beasts, which range from baby

turtles only a few inches long to the 450-pound Aldabara Tortoises

imported from islands just off the African coast.

On Saturday and Sunday, the public is invited to view his collection at a

free open house from noon to 4 p.m.

“I grew into a fascination of turtles,” he said. “It started like any

hobby. I had two, then three and decades later, 800. Wherever turtles

live in the world, there is at least one representative of them here.”

The 72-year-old resident strolled through his yard, describing each

turtle’s unique characteristics, including snakelike heads or a soft,

rubbery shell. Keeping track of the turtles is the most challenging part

of the job, but Allen and his five assistants have the heart for it.

His wife, Irma, runs the turtle adoption program and his receptionist,

Kathy Capriotti, who has worked at the Casa for about a year, sometimes

acts as a dispatch for turtles in dire conditions.

One turtle brought to her attention this month was so badly dehydrated,

she said she could see bones pushing against its skin.

“I had never seen turtle bones before,” she said. “I get a lot of really

weird calls. It’s sad because turtles can live for so long in such bad

situations.”

The widespread abuse of turtles has motivated Allen to give tours to

students, parents and senior citizens everyday throughout the year.

“There are so many stupid people who have turtles and don’t know how to

take care of them,” he said.

Common abuses include feeding a meat-eating turtle only lettuce, leaving

the pets outside at night where they can be attacked by raccoons or catch

a bout of pneumonia from the cold temperatures.

As a member of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club, Allen has created

a turtle heaven.

The hardbacks swim in Allen’s 5000-gallon backyard pond, complete with

bridges and a waterfall, and plod through soft, warm mud. More delicate

turtles, including the albino red-eared slider, are quarantined to

aquariums inside, where they receive extra special attention, he said.

His reputation has spread throughout the world and today, zoo curators

and pet owners from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America, as well as

Orange County, continue to bring him their unwanted turtles.

Allen said he never turns away a turtle, or gives one up to a new owner

until he knows he can trust them.

“I never let people adopt my turtles until they’ve been screened and

taught how to take care of them,” he said.