Wheels for tortoise whose legs were eaten by rats

1
145

Septimus the tortoise is back on the move after his front legs were replaced with wheels from a model aeroplane.

The pet – described by his owner Darren Strand as ‘sprightly and sociable’ – can resume the social whirl thanks to vet Ben Trimmer, who attached the prosthetics with putty.

‘It was the first time he had put front wheels on a tortoise as he had only done back wheels before,’ said property developer Mr Strand, 49, of Gosport, Hampshire.

Septimus, 23, serves as a cautionary tale for anyone who has wished they could hibernate through the winter.

He bedded down in a corner of the garden and – when he surfaced in April last year – his front feet had been gnawed by rats and needed amputating. ‘His legs were full of maggots,’ recalled Mr Strand’s daughter Tabbie, 13.

The reptile has taken to his wheels. ‘On cut grass he’s really fast,’ Mr Strand added.

 

1 COMMENT

  1. .
    I wish the owner of the model plane could be a little more generous to donate the wings too …
    .

Comments are closed.