Septimus the tortoise: Septimus was hibernating so deeply, he had no idea that rats were gnawing off his front legs. When Darren Strand found the little guy under his porch, he took him to the veterinarian. What remained of Septimus' legs were infested with maggots, and Darren and his daughter were faced with two options: amputation or euthanasia. The 23-year-old tortoise's life was saved by an operation which attached model airplane wheels to his front end. Once he got the hang of it, Septimus became the speediest tortoise in town!