Sometimes tortoises pack up their shells for a Florida retirement home, too.
Shelly has been living Chautauqua Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in DeFuniak Springs, Florida for two years now. But he's only twenty, and can live for another eighty years, so he's not there to kick back and play bingo -- Shelly is a therapy tortoise.
[seealso slug="puka-and-rocket-larry"]
Staff at Chautauqua say that the tortoise on call actually helps bring residents out of their shells (pun very much intended) -- people make more of an effort to leave their rooms to hang out with Shelly.
Original image has been replaced.
Credit: Mashable
Original image has been replaced.
Credit: Mashable
In turn, Shelly has a pretty sweet set up, including a garden on site that grows all of his favorite foods. Green beans in particular are a hit.