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. Corndog’s likelihood of remission was extremely low, and we made the difficult decision to place her in palliative care. Corndog has reached the final stages of her disease, and staff and volunteers are saying their goodbyes. She is still behaving like her curious, excited, and snacky self, and this is how we want to see her spend her last days before humane euthanasia.

To keep Corndog’s legacy at the forefront of our minds, we are offering memorial keychains for a very limited time. Anyone who makes a donation in her name, one time or monthly, above $15 during the month of September 2026 will receive a memorial keychain with our favorite photo of her. All keychains will be made to order and shipped on the same day during the month of October 2026. Local friends: If you prefer to pick yours up in person, we will have a self-service stand and donation drop box. Appointments are required, and tours are not available at this time. You can email michaela.c@turtlerescueleague.org to schedule a time for pickup.

If you become a monthly sponsor of Corndog, your gift will go towards the medical fund that covers veterinary costs for turtles like her. THANK YOU for your support during this difficult time.