Meet Corn Dog

A summer breeze, the sound of waves lapping gently against the marsh grass, strong summer sun on your skin…

And then, a hand on your back, a sudden pull, a dark bumpy ride to a small goldfish bowl, where you stay for years. The water doesn’t taste right – it’s not salty. There’s nothing to swim around, climb on, or dig in, and you eat the same food every day. You grow, but your bowl and your world does not. This is Corn Dog’s story.

Another turtle stolen from the wild as an adorable hatchling. Another turtle sentenced to life in an environment she wasn’t built for, that doesn’t make sense to her. Another turtle left behind in an empty apartment when her captors moved away. Although we were able to rescue Corn Dog, because we don’t know anything about where she came from, we’ll never be able to set her free.

Diamond-backed terrapins are beautiful turtles, and Corn Dog is beautiful for a diamond-backed terrapin. Her grays, greens, and even hints of blue are stunning. Her expressive eyes tell us she appreciates the space, clean water, varied diet and enrichment she gets at Turtle Rescue League. She will be with us forever, and we will forever work to make sure she’s happy and healthy.

Sadly, Corndog was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma early in 2026. She has undergone testing through a cytology, biopsy, and finally a CAT scan with contrast to confirm the diagnosis and determine if the cancer had metastasized beyond her skin. Fortunately, it has not, but the lesions on her head and aggressive progression don’t make remission likely. Corndog is continuing to eat heartily, bask in the warm glow of her light, and swim normally. We are monitoring her closely for quality of life and developing a palliative care plan.