SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas Tortoise might be the only native tortoise to the Lone Star State, but many species are calling Central Texas Tortoise Rescue their home.

Founder Krista McDermid, says that 99 percent of the tortoises come from pet stores.

"People buy them for their child or people buy them when they are in college or something like that, then their life circumstances change, or you got this animal when you were young and strong and now you are retired and it is getting a little harder to lift -- because it weighs a hundred pounds. That's where we come in," said McDermid.  

McDermid also recommends putting your wishes for the turtle's future in your will, "Some species live well over 100 years."

Most people don't.

Since 2015, the rescue has adopted more than 500 tortoises.

For the larger breeds, McDermid said the ideal owner has a lot of land with a very strong and visible border to keep the surprisingly sneaky and determined animals from wanting to escape.

"They are going to sleep where they want to, they are going to eat what they want to and they are going to go wherever they want to," she said.

Many of the rescued animals at the facility were never pets to begin with.

"So many come to us that somebody has 'rescued' from the wild, and once one of those animals comes into captivity, because of pathogens, they can't really be reintroduced -- they don't relocate very well," said McDermid. 

If you are determined to get a companion pet that has a shell, Mcdermid says, "I really do encourage people to seek out adoption, seek out some sort of rescue organization."

She also recommends that potential adopters start, "learning about the type of species you are interested in because they each have their own quirks and abilities."

The tortoises at the facility range in size from about the size of an Oreo cookie to a small a Volkswagen.

If you are not in a position to adopt you can still help the rescue operations.

Donations, time and money are always appreciated and if you're doing some yard work, McDermid says Spineless Cactus is great food for the tortoises, and "call us we'll come to you after you've chopped it out of your yard."

And for those of you not sure about the difference between a tortoise and a turtle, she offered some advice.

"All tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises," McDermid said. 

For us amateurs: Turtles tend to be flatter with webbed feet and are at home in the water while a tortoise has feet closer resembling an elephants.

Mcdermid added, "Don't throw a tortoise in the river."

For profiles and stories about Tortoises at the facility you can check out their website at https://texastortoiserescue.com/  

To contact the rescue or to inquire about donating, adopting, volunteering or surrendering an animal visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/tortoiserescue/