30/01/2024
With sadness this is our last photo of George.
Unfortunately last week he passed on to tortoise heaven. Or in the words or Ray’s son Mason, “he’s with dad now”.
The exotic vet office determined unfortunately he passed of natural causes/older age stress to his body living in Indiana climate, along with he had a few small birth defects.
They let us know thankful he was more than spoiled and well cared for considering many tortoises don’t make it past the hatchling phase, let alone to 15 years old living in our climate. So 23 here is actually senior citizen for him. Which some can live longer here too but the average age is much lower than what we thought.
Especially spoiled they said, surviving winters with the extra heaters in the old mud room at Ray’s for winter and the last two years with our mini barn with the pellet stove. Making sure he was never hungry or dehydrated especially getting fresh vegetables and fruits along with being our lawn Romba. He had his calcium / uv lighting he needed. She Said Ray was a perfect tortoise owner and gave us a good guide book for our inheritance buddy.
Just unfortunately age and our climate stress on his body and minor birth defects weren’t on his side. He thankfully entered a hibernation like state and passed while sleeping according to the vets office too.
🥺🌈🐢
Georgie boy and Ray are together at least now.
