Meet Shelley, Des Plaines' 20-year-old celebrity frog

In this, the Year of the Frog as proclaimed by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, it seems fitting to relate the story of a local frog who will turn 20 this month.

Shelley the Frog is somewhat of a minor celebrity in Des Plaines. He has been named "Most Unique Pet" twice in the city's annual Pooch, Pet and Pedal Parade and he regularly visits area nursing homes with his owner, Jim Gillespie, a World War II veteran who ministers for The Right Tract ministry of the Church of the Resurrected Savior.

Jim and Ruby Gillespie have owned Shelley - who they learned only recently is actually a male ­­- since he was a tadpole. They enjoyed watching the pipidae frog shed his tail and grow arms and legs when he was young and named him for the large shell he enjoys climbing in his aquarium.

The 5-inch-long greenish-brown frog with spots resides in an aquarium on the kitchen counter and they spend hours each day talking to him and watching him swim, turn somersaults, stand, stretch along his glass wall and "sing."

An aquatic frog who spends most of his time in water and should not be handled often, Shelley is seldom out of his aquarium since, according to Jim, he one time got caught under the refrigerator and almost died. Barring accidents, the average life expectancy of a frog is 5 to 15 years, a milestone Shelley long since passed.

Each morning Ruby feeds him special frog food they order from Florida and twice a week Jim changes the water in his aquarium.

Jim, the father of two, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of two, even sees Shelley as part of his ministry. There are 14 different mentions of frogs in the Bible, Jim observes.

Each Tuesday, Jim and Shelley visit the residents of Lee Manor nursing home.

"Shelley is a part of God's creation. He created Shelley for our enjoyment just like he created us for his enjoyment," he explained.

But weekly trips to Lee Manor are not the only trips Shelley takes with Jim. He has outfitted a three-wheel bicycle and trailer for Shelley which he rides in local parades.

And when he and Ruby strike out in their recreational vehicle for a trip, Shelley goes along.

"He has logged 66,000 miles with us," Jim stated.