Coincidentally, Wayne and Lee Ann Cusick happened to read a newspaper story about the tortoise living in Cusick. The couple said they would like to adopt Sadie, but are reluctant to drive from their home in Blythe, a desert city in southern California, to pick up the tortoise in Washington.

Cooper and Cusick are hoping a big-hearted southbound traveler can give Sadie a ride. Cusick said he even considered a tortoise relay and is willing to make the four-hour drive to Los Angeles if someone would bring Sadie that far south.

"I somehow don't think that's going to happen," he said, "but I'm hoping that between word-of-mouth and some notoriety, we'll be able to find someone."