"You have to see it to believe it": Portsmouth Tortoise Rescue recognised by Animal Star Awards UK
Love and dedication are the foundations of a Portsmouth-based tortoise charity that works round the clock.
Portsmouth Tortoise Rescue has been crowned Animal Charity of the year at the Animal Star Awards UK which took place last month. The rescue was established six yeara go by Bernice Buckingham who has always had a passion for looking after tortoises. The charity is based in Cosham and has rescued a countless number of the reptiles which have been given up for a number of reasons.
“You have to see it to believe it - I have been doing this for years but it started to get a bit out of hand. It got to the point where people were dumping them on my front step in boxes and a friend of mine said I should set up a Facebook page to try and find them homes - but the problem was were were getting a lot of people wanting to surrender their tortoises.”
Bernice said: “A lot of people don’t realise how much care they need, or they don’t bother to look after them the way they should.
“A lot of people come and have a look and we will give them lists of foods they can have, we walk them through how to home them, we show them the shed or outside houses and we do clinics and talks.”
The charity has taken in a range of different tortoises including one that is at least 200 years old and in order to function, the charity relies on funding. The recent award that the team have received has been a huge boost and Bernice said it is ‘really nice’ to be recognised.
She continued: “We are still confused how it happened - you have to be nominated. We have travelled all across the country to pick tortoises up so it was really nice that someone has noticed the work we do. I don’t do this for reward, I do this for the love I have for the tortoises.”