Tino the tortoise went to town.
He was a pig.
The Sulcata tortoise gobbled lettuce strewn on a colorful beach towel. Sometimes he absentmindedly chewed the towel when it stuck to the veggies.
His chomping habits delighted dozens of residents, rehabilitation patients and staff last week at Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood. There hasn’t been this much excitement at the home since they evacuated during the last flood.
Rehab patient June Angevine arranged to have three of her tortoises pay a visit. The trio, including Tino, ate lunch in a day room.
Tino is the famous tortoise who made news two years ago when he went on the lam from his Arlington digs.
He was found 10 days later, putzing around the neighborhood, and was happily reunited with Angevine.
She spent a couple of weeks recovering at Josephine following back and knee surgeries. Angevine should do publicity for the home. She said she adored the staff, food, surroundings, loving attention and bingo, where everybody wins.
Josephine naturally has its act together. It’s been operating in Stanwood for 101 years.
Angevine’s friend, Carl Gensil Jr. from Arlington, took care of her African spur-thighed tortoises while she was mending. Angevine, 55, who lives at Lake Goodwin, talked to dozens of folks about rearing tortoises, explaining they had faces only a mother could love. Natives of southern African deserts, Sulcata tortoises can live to be 100 years old and weigh up to 200 pounds. They are the third-largest tortoise in the world.
She walked around the room, as did Gensil, letting everyone pat the pets.
Folks exclaimed about the “turtles,” but the visitors weren’t turtles. Tortoises live on the land, and turtles live in or near the water.
If Tino fell into a lake, he would sink like a chunk of concrete, Angevine said.
In the day room at Josephine, Tino got bored. Angevine said he would take off down the hallway.
Right.
A big old tortoise roaming the hallways.
And that is just what he did. Off he galloped, tortoise style. Down the hall, head protruding like a geoduck neck, poking in this and that room.
Nursing home administrator Teri Lindgren gave chase. She bent at the knee, patted Tino’s head, and scooted him out of one room he was disinclined to vacate.
Chug chug.
He joined Daisy and Turbo, who also went exploring.
“I’m glad they haven’t done anything naughty on the carpet,” Angevine said, trailing the trio.
Seeing spikey, prehistoric- looking vegetarians crawling like mad to parts unknown was a hoot. Angevine said it meant a lot to share her gentle creatures with all of her new friends, who can always use a lift.
Rehab patient Mary Jenkins said she loved the tortoises.
“I’ve never seen one that big,” Jenkins said.
Angevine was clearly moved that her pets were such a hit.
“Everyone wants to see Tino,” Angevine said. “This is his most important journey.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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