More than 34,000 active duty troops live at Fort Bliss in El Paso. But a lot of civilians pass through the base as well. That’s – in part – because of its commanding general, Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, who leaves his post Thursday.

Pittard has served in the military for over three decades, but coming to Fort Bliss about three years ago was coming home. His turned his personal connection into a connection for Fort Bliss.

  Five African spurred tortoises are sitting patiently at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley awaiting either their owner or someone willing to adopt them.

   The tortoises, native to the Saharan desert of North Africa, are not the first of their kind to arrive at the shelter. According to Executive Director Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock, a 40-pound African spurred tortoise was brought to the shelter in 2011.

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