How Michael became Michaela
VEREENIGING. - Sometimes, people with good intentions can inadvertently cause trouble and heartache for others. This is the story of how Michael the tortoise became Michaela.
Mrs. Gail Welman from Three Rivers contacted Vaalweekblad to share the story of Michael the tortoise. He does not belong to her, but to a friend of hers.
Michael has lived happily and trouble-free in his owner’s enormous backyard for 40 years. Before that, he lived with his owner’s granny for many years.
The family reckons Michael is about 80 years old.
Michael loves to waddle around, sometimes upsetting the dog’s water bowl, tipping the food bowl, climbing into the dog box, and not allowing the dogs in until he feels like leaving.
He happily gets up to mischief with a smile on his tiny tortoise face.
Last December, someone happened to see Michael toddling around the yard and complained to the SPCA. How they saw Michael is a mystery as there is a 2-meter wall around the entire yard.
The SPCA duly arrived as they should and told the elderly woman that it was illegal to have a tortoise in the yard. These are the rules the SPCA has to comply with.
The poor owner just about had a heart spasm at the thought of having Michael confiscated after 40 years!
She knew she would have to follow the rules and asked what she should do. Flora and Fauna were called in, and they examined Michael to see if he was healthy.
He passed the test with flying colours, which makes sense as he had survived 40 years in granny’s care.
Photos were taken of Michael as part of the process to check and identify him. If he was an endangered species, they would confiscate him, but if he was an ordinary tortoise, the owner could apply for a permit and have him tagged.
Fauna and Flora advised that his shell was so old and patterns faded they couldn’t be sure, but thought he was a Leopard tortoise, which is a common tortoise.
Also, it was discovered that Michael is a girl tortoise, and her name is now Michaela.
This was the best outcome for Granny and Michaela. But not at a cost.
The owner had to take Michaela to the vet to be tagged at a cost of R150. Then she applied for the permit at a cost of R100.
The permit duly arrived at Eloff Street Post Office. As she couldn’t drive there, she had to arrange a courier service at a cost of R300. It has now cost this elderly woman R550 to keep taking care of Michaela.
But at least Michaela can keep on living her best life, hijacking the dog box and strolling through the flowers in the safety of her yard.
