The fairytale concerning the tortoise and hare is supposed to have a contented ending.
However for disabled John O’Hare the result is ready to be a tragedy.
He's being compelled to discover a new dwelling for his beloved pet tortoise Pat - after quick rising gasoline payments noticed him rack up fuel and electrical energy arrears of £2,250.
He can not afford the ultra-violet and infra-red lighting wanted for Egyptian tortoise Pat’s tank.
John is being compelled to discover a cost plan to settle the calls for by Scottish Energy, which must come off his advantages.
If he turned off the lamps on Pat’s tank, the trustworthy eight-year-old pet, bred for desert situations, would die.
John, of Newport on Tay, Fife, mentioned: “It breaks my coronary heart to do it however I’m going to must let Pat go to a house the place they will afford to maintain the lights on.
“I used to be shocked once I acquired my invoice and noticed that the arrears had gone by means of the roof.
“There merely isn’t any means I pays it off with out getting right into a long run plan and which means I’ll have to begin slicing down on the ability I take advantage of.
“I get fairly emotional fascinated about it as a result of Pat has been a trustworthy good friend and he has an actual character of his personal.
“He will likely be round for lots longer than I'll, so I hope he'll regulate to a brand new dwelling.”
John has epilepsy and suffers from power lung illness. He will get by on authorities PIP funds.
He was compelled to defend throughout lockdown and has barely set foot exterior his flat in two years.
John mentioned: “I’m a shadow of the person I used to be and I battle to breathe, notably when there's a wind in my face.
“I've spent a variety of time indoors and I let Pat have the run of the place when he’s awake. He's a wee character and he very often tries to have it off with the cat by latching onto its leg, which is all the time good for amusing.”
He added: “I see on TV all of the speak of a price of dwelling disaster and I can let you know it’s true.
“Who would have thought anybody must quit a pet as small as a tortoise due to the working prices?
“I all the time thought he can be a good friend for all times and the omens had been very constructive. We have now been a traditional Hare and Tortoise, which I all the time favored the sound of, though I’m nearly as gradual as him lately.
“However except any individual steps in and magics away my gasoline payments, I’m going to must plead for an additional proprietor to return ahead and take Pat off my palms.”
Pat has already been within the information after his troubled journey to John’s home as a child in 2014.
An unscrupulous pet supplier duct taped Pat inside a cereal field after promoting him to John on-line.
John was horrified to find his new reptile fully lined in sticky tape and unable to maneuver after shopping for it on Gumtree.
It had travelled from London all the best way to Scotland.
John, who paid £100 for the newborn tortoise, mentioned: “I referred to as him Pat as a result of he arrived through the postman. He had a tricky journey to Scotland however he’s been very comfy and secure ever since.”
After being outraged at Pat’s therapy, he referred to as the Scottish SPCA, who prosecuted the unlawful supplier.
Within the well-known kids's fairytale, the speedy hare races the gradual tortoise - however the tortoise wins by taking issues gradual and regular.
•Anybody who want to give Pat a superb dwelling can e-mail the Every day File on reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
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