Foster Care

This is Jaws. He is a desert tortoise. He is my neighbors' pet. He lives at my house. It's a win, win situation.

Let me back up. Our friends have had this tortoise for a little over a year now. They love him. He's the easiest pet ever. You don't have to feed or water him. He eats the grass, weeds, and whatever else is in your yard, and gets all the water he needs from that. If you get a wild hair, you can put out some lettuce, and he'll eat that up. But you don't have to. Plus, he hibernates for 3 or 4 months in the winter!

Several months ago, these friends of ours got a dog. The dog and tortoise lived harmoniously together for a few months. Then one day, the dog went after the tortoise. Luckily my friend was home and saved the tortoise. She brought him inside and put him in a big cardboard box for a little R and R. Her husband is suppose to build him an enclosure in the yard where he'll be safe. That was a couple weeks ago. The tortoise is going crazy in the box, and still no enclosure!

So when we finally got into our own house, with our own yard, she asked if we would take Jaws into "foster care" until the enclosure got built. She thought maybe that might embarrass her husband into building it! Until then, the kids love him. We bought him some lettuce and they are training him to come up to the porch for food. I'm thinking that we'll have to get our own when Jaws goes home. You just can't beat this guy for a pet. Especially if you're not a pet person!