‘Missing’ tortoise Dave stuns owners with sudden return
A Horsham man whose pet tortoise went missing in October last year has finally found him – five months later.
The tortoise – named Dave – suddenly made an appearance back in the garden of owner Mike Killner’s home on Friday.
Stunned Mike couldn’t believe his eyes when sevenyear-old Dave dug himself out of the ground after hibernating for months buried beneath the earth.
“He needed a good bath and a slap up meal but generally he was looking in pretty good shape.
“It was good to seem him again after so long,” said Mike.
When he first disappeared Mike posted a ‘missing’ notice on a Horsham lost-and-found pets social media page.
“I searched everywhere for him,” said Mike. “We normally bring him inside when it gets cold. I searched high and low but couldn’t find him. I thought a fox might have got him.
“Then last Friday, it was sunny and I went out into the garden and he literally dug himself out of the ground.
“It’s really nice to have him back. But I thought ‘bloody hell, mate, you have been buried in there for this long’.”
Dave is now safely back with his fellow tortoise – Kate, who is also seven years old – and enjoying his favourite food: red peppers, cucumber and dandelions.
And he’s become something of a celebrity after Mike revealed Dave’s surprise return on social media.
Scores of people wrote of their relief that Dave had returned safely. Many posted: “Fantastic news!” and “So glad he’s safe!”
But Mike isn’t taking any chances of losing Dave again. “He is getting a Bluetooth tracker come autumn,” he said.