Lifestyle

Rebellious reptile goes missing 223 days before being reunited


AVON LAKE, Ohio – Once thought to be three seashells in the wind, a rebellious reptile named Tiny Tim eluded his owner in Lake Avon and went missing for 223 days until he ran into a geek 12 year old reptile enthusiast.

The dangerous story of Tiny Tim, a 12-year-old Horsfield tortoise, became the talk of the Waterside Crossings subdivision in Lake Avon this week after the months-long run ended with him We are returned with gratitude and excitement. owner, Vanessa Baker, 15 years old.

little heart 1.jpg

News 5

Tiny heart, live your best life.

Baker, who has had a lifelong relationship with turtles and turtles of all shapes and sizes, received Tiny Tim as a birthday present when she turned four years old. Like his canine companions, Tiny Tim has become an indelible part of the family – despite doing everything in his power to get rid of them.

“I love turtles so much, and this was a dream come true when I got it. Since then, he’s been the best thing that ever happened to me,” Vanessa Baker said. “All the ten years that we’ve had him, he’s trying to get out of here.”

Tiny Tim’s reputation precedes him. All it took was a few seconds of inattention and he started the race, methodically plunging into concrete, rock and grass. He is a turtle on a mission.

“There is always somewhere else he has to go. I do not know what it is. He is a little tourist. He loves going everywhere,” says Vanessa Baker. “He’s always going everywhere.”

little heart 5.jpg

News 5

Truth be told, the turtle had escaped a few times before that. Each time, however, he was quickly recaptured, often never making it past the neighbor’s bushes.

“When we have [Tiny Tim], I told Vanessa that the Russian tortoise lives for 50 years. He’ll be with you when you’re in college. He will be staying with you at your first apartment,” said Katie Baker, Vanessa’s mother. “He is with you every step of the way. When he left us, I don’t think that would be the end of our story.”

One day last fall, after years of plotting and planning, Tiny Tim got his moment. A small hole has grown in his outdoor barn, giving him just enough room to escape confinement. This is his time. This is his “Shellshank” redemption.

Known to dig and dig a few inches deep in the ground, Tiny Tim’s escape went undetected by the Bakers until a day or two later. Days have turned to weeks. Weeks have turned to months. Hopes of finding Tiny Tim began to wane.

“We really didn’t think we would find him. It was winter and there was snow and everything. Did we really try [lose hope],” says Vanessa Baker. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ll see him again because he’s been gone for seven months.”

Soon after he escaped, the Baker family printed “missing” posters with Tiny Tim’s bewildered face emblazoned on the front. It looks more like a photograph than anything. In addition to posting flyers around their home and the nearby walking path, the family posted on the neighborhood Facebook page.

little heart 2.jpg

News 5

“With a lost dog, you know, there’s a kind of process to that. With a lost turtle, it’s all about ‘who lives near us,’ says Katie Baker. “We haven’t heard from anyone reporting seeing him or anything. We have lost hope for sure. ”

As the snow finally turns to spring, there’s an even bigger threat: Lawn mowers. Still, the family did not stop searching for this reptile. Then on Wednesday, about a mile from the Baker Family home, Tiny Tim was discovered by a sharp-eyed delivery driver and curious 12-year-old boy named Clayton Johnson.

“A delivery driver stopped in the middle of the street. He saw a turtle on the road and he asked me if it was mine,” Johnson said. “[The tortoise] moving pretty fast – for a turtle, of course. ”

little heart 4.jpg

News 5

Johnson then gave chase, quickly confirming that Tiny Tim was not native to Ohio. This information tells him that Tiny Tim must be someone’s pet. A quick Facebook post later left the Bakers in shock.

“As soon as he posted it, within five minutes, some people started calling us,” says Katie Baker.

Using a distinct scar on Tiny Tim’s shell, the Bakers know they’ve finally found their long-lost turtle. Fortunately, Tiny Tim was uninjured and healthy. The bakers believe it may have burrowed into the ground near the pond behind their house and stayed there for a large amount of winter.

“It’s just really heartwarming. I’ve never had an experience like this so it’s great to bring him back to where he belongs,” Johnson said.





Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Peak