Horsham man’s surprise as ‘missing’ tortoise returns ... after five months
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The tortoise - named Dave - suddenly made an appearance back in the garden of owner Mike Killner’s Horsham home on Friday.
Stunned Mike couldn’t believe his eyes when seven-year-old Dave dug himself out of the ground after hibernating for months buried beneath the earth.
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Hide Ad“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.
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Hide Ad“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.
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Hide AdScores 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.
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