A woman has gone viral after revealing that she has been together with her pet tortoise for 56 years after she was gifted the animal for her 10th birthday.
66-year-old Jeanna Smith admitted she had been a huge fan of turtles and tortoises when she was a little girl which is why her father gifted her George the Tortoise for her 10th birthday back in 1962.
As the woman revealed, her parents wanted her not only to have fun with her pet but also to learn about responsibility and taking care of others. What the parents never expected, however, was that George would stay by Jeanna’s side longer than them.
“I just really loved turtles,” Mrs. Smith said in an interview.
After George joined the family ranks, he and Jeanna instantly became inseparable. The girl would take the tortoise with her anywhere she went by giving him a ride in her bike basket.
In addition to Jeanna’s love, the girl’s family and friends also showered the pet with affection and delicious fruits such as kiwis and strawberries.
While one would expect the bond between the pair to grow weaker as Jeanna grew older, the two have only gotten closer over the years. Smith even took George with her when she enrolled in college despite her dorm not allowing any pets.
As time passed by, Jeanna married her college sweetheart, Kirby Smith. While the man was a tad surprised by his lover’s unusual relationship with her pet, he soon accepted that George was a part of the package deal.
Nowadays, George remains by Jeanna’s side wherever the family goes. He also poses with them for family pictures.
Despite their strong bond, there were times when George wanted to take a break from Jeanna and attempted to ‘run’ away.
“Three times George has escaped his backyard, the most recent in 1988 when he burrowed under a fence” Mrs. Smith elaborated.
“A TV news crew showed up about the time George was discovered hiding beneath some foliage in a neighbor’s yard. He was quickly whisked back to his home.”
While Gopher tortoises living in the wild typically survive up to 60 years, those raised in captivity may live for over 100 years. In case George outlives Jeanna, the woman already agreed with her daughter to take him in.
“When I go, then George will go and live with them. It’s in the will,” Jeanna said.
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your friends and family!
Recommended Video!
“Animal Lover Tries To Kiss Snapping Turtle, But Gets Viciously Bitten On The Lips”