The Villages - September 2016 - 15
{ For The
Love
oF peTS }
Slow, Shelled
and Spunky
Story By DyLAN GAMEZ
Photo By roB WILKErSoN
Not all beloved pets are soft and fluffy.
For Carol and Stan Swies, two reptiles really
brought the couple out of their shells.
Carol and Stan took in their first turtle
in 2012. Stella, a Florida pond cooter,
barely spanned a half-dollar when they
brought her into their Village Palo
Alto home and named her after
Stan's mother.
It didn't take long for the Swieses to realize that Stella needed
a mate. In a few short weeks,
they added Stanley, named after Stan's father, to their turtle
tank.
Stella and Stanley happily settled into the retirement lifestyle
with an indoor tank and an outdoor play area.
They've
become
fast
friends, climbing over each
other and rarely even popping a kiss, Carol said.
The pair shows just as
much affection toward its
owners.
"They are so excited to see
us when we come home," Carol said.
"They're so much fun and bring us so
much joy every day. However, if we've been out
too long, they get mad and don't move. They're
just like children. Everyone knows them as 'our kids.'"
Stella and Stan enjoy gentle rubs and pats on their
heads and tails, followed by a treat of shredded carrots
- a true turtle temptation.
Friends love coming to pet and visit the turtles in their
habitat, but Stella and Stanley have made the biggest
splash with strangers at Spanish Springs Town Square.
"We have dog collars and leashes for them, so we can
walk the turtles around the square," Stan said. "We will
also sit on the bench while Stella and Stanley enjoy sunning themselves."
When Carol and Stan bring their beloved duo out on
the town, they get plenty of odd looks, but most people
are fascinated.
"People probably think we're crazy," Carol said,
laughing. "But we figured if people walk their dogs, why
couldn't we walk our turtles? They don't bark."
The Swieses keep them on a short leash - although
they wouldn't get far if they ran away.
MAGAZINE
15
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - September 2016
Contents
The Villages - September 2016 - Cover1
The Villages - September 2016 - Contents
The Villages - September 2016 - 1
The Villages - September 2016 - 2
The Villages - September 2016 - 3
The Villages - September 2016 - 4
The Villages - September 2016 - 5
The Villages - September 2016 - 6
The Villages - September 2016 - 7
The Villages - September 2016 - 8
The Villages - September 2016 - 9
The Villages - September 2016 - 10
The Villages - September 2016 - 11
The Villages - September 2016 - 12
The Villages - September 2016 - 13
The Villages - September 2016 - 14
The Villages - September 2016 - 15
The Villages - September 2016 - 16
The Villages - September 2016 - 17
The Villages - September 2016 - 18
The Villages - September 2016 - 19
The Villages - September 2016 - 20
The Villages - September 2016 - 21
The Villages - September 2016 - 22
The Villages - September 2016 - 23
The Villages - September 2016 - 24
The Villages - September 2016 - 25
The Villages - September 2016 - 26
The Villages - September 2016 - 27
The Villages - September 2016 - 28
The Villages - September 2016 - 29
The Villages - September 2016 - 30
The Villages - September 2016 - 31
The Villages - September 2016 - 32
The Villages - September 2016 - 33
The Villages - September 2016 - 34
The Villages - September 2016 - 35
The Villages - September 2016 - 36
The Villages - September 2016 - 37
The Villages - September 2016 - 38
The Villages - September 2016 - 39
The Villages - September 2016 - 40
The Villages - September 2016 - 41
The Villages - September 2016 - 42
The Villages - September 2016 - 43
The Villages - September 2016 - 44
The Villages - September 2016 - 45
The Villages - September 2016 - 46
The Villages - September 2016 - 47
The Villages - September 2016 - 48
The Villages - September 2016 - 49
The Villages - September 2016 - 50
The Villages - September 2016 - 51
The Villages - September 2016 - 52
The Villages - September 2016 - 53
The Villages - September 2016 - 54
The Villages - September 2016 - 55
The Villages - September 2016 - Cover4
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