One of the most heartbreaking aspects of nature is that tortoises can become prey to a variety of predators when hibernating. It’s all a part of the natural cycle of life. But here’s a heartwarming story of how something dreadful can be transformed into something enjoyable and cheerful.
Mrs. T. the tortoise was hibernating in Pembroke, Wales, when she was attacked by rats and her front legs were eaten away. This is not unusual. In reality, an accidental rat bite killed Britain’s oldest tortoise in 2013.
June Ryder, Mrs. T.’s owner, was obviously heartbroken by this. She spent £1000 on vet fees to treat her beloved cat. But there was little that could be done — after all, the vet couldn’t give the tortoise new legs.
That is, until Ryder’s engineer offspring considered the issue.
The mechanical engineer, Dale Ryder, had gotten Mrs. T. as a present when he was eight years old. Nearly thirty years later, he devised a great scheme to ensure she survived to see a joyful hundredth birthday — by giving her a new set of wheels – literally!
He put the wheels of a model airplane on Mrs T’s shell, and she can now go twice as fast as she could before.
