Herpetologist required.... And no that's not naughty!!!!!

Who says Bernese can't use long words and know what they mean? Ok we might not be the fastest or the showiest looking, but BONES we are the best. Well do you know what a herpetologist is..... Any offers??? Well it's a vet with a special interest in things like Tortoise, snakes , lizards and other reptiles. And right now one of my Bernese mates is in the poop past his proverbial eyes because of one.... A tortoise that is. Now as you probably know, us Berners can sometimes become absolutely fixated on something we want and can't have, somewhere we want to go and shouldn't... Well you know what I mean, and he has done both, and is now in debt past every paw and sinking fast. To say his bone and biscuit allowance is spent for about the next twenty years is most definately an understatement. The total bernerbrain decided that he would practice his burglary skills and break into the tortoise corral and see exactly what you did with them! High fences, bolts, below floor fencing he got past the lot and  found a tortoise!!! Thing is what do you do with one when you get it? Any sensible dog would perhaps roll it over, decide it smelt a little off and wander off and leave it. Not my mate, he decides he wants to know what's inside the hard bit... And starts chewing the shell. Now don't get all stressed, it has a happy ending... Apart from the four figure bill at the vets that is. Old torty survived after a great deal of specialised care, and is now to be fitted with a fibreglass based replacement shell and should live a long and happy life now. I suppose it could have been worse if the dog had swallowed a lump of shell and needed treatment too..... But what a wally ? Bet he will be in the DOG HOUSE for at least a month, and it's going to take an awful lot of plate licking and guard dogging to pay the two legs back. Moral of the story...... Us Berners are brighter and more determined than you think. Cute cuddly and extremely handsome, but we have brains and tenacity too. Just when you think you have us sorted............. Cool runnings Gryff