PHOTOS: Prestonwood Court’s Russian tortoise returns from hibernation

Senior living community Prestonwood Court recently celebrated the post-hibernation return of their rather atypical pet – Bobbie the Russian Tortoise.

Bobbie has lived in a courtyard in the community since August 2013, when she joined the staff as a gift from Prestonwood’s department heads to its founding executive director, Rose Daughety, for her birthday.

Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Court.


Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Court.


Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Court.


Photo courtesy of Prestonwood Court.

“Bobbie has been a constant in this community for nearly 12 years,” said Chase Thomas, executive director of Prestonwood Court. “Our residents look for her, talk about her, worry about her in the winter, and celebrate when she comes back out. That kind of consistent, joyful connection is exactly what we strive to create every day in our Pathways Neighborhood.”

The memory care program has spent years feeding, finding and forming bonds with Bobbie, who they call “the small one.”

Like most tortoises, Bobbie hibernates during the winter months. Now that spring has sprung, Bobbie has returned to his duties.