Soaring Snapper

Fly away!

Authorities are looking for whoever taped a turtle to several balloons and sent it flying in an Oceanside neighborhood.

According to authorities, the incident happened last Sunday afternoon on Humboldt Bay Way.

The turtle was spotted duct-taped and dangling from balloons that were caught high up in a eucalyptus tree. Some neighbors next door saw what was going on and tried to help the turtle.

"We look up and there's green and blue balloons up there," said resident Chanelle Wright. "He was just swinging his arms trying to get out of it. Somebody had taped him to the balloons."

If something bizarre happens in Oceanside on the weekend, the odds-on favorite culprit is Marines. Drunk Marines, to be precise... Which, come to think of it, is pretty much the only kind of Marine you'll find on a weekend.

"It's animal abuse. If you didn't want the turtle, give it away, take it to a pet store"

Make soup.

The Humane Society had the turtle checked out and is canvassing the neighborhood.

"We proceed by checking with everybody in the neighborhood and see if anybody saw anything, who might know who the owner of the turtle is," said Lt. Melyssa Jones, who is with the Humane Society.

If detectives can find out who taped the turtle to the balloons, they could face charges of animal abuse.

It's a fucking turtle. My dogs use them as toys. Move on, people.