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In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018, photo, a veterinarian works on a wayward tortoise that cracked its shell after falling off a 10-foot wall in San Diego County. The tortoise is recovering after vets used screws, zip ties and denture material to repair it. County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa says the male 90-pound African spurred tortoise probably was a pet that got loose from a yard. (San Diego County Department of Animal Services via AP)
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In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018, photo, a veterinarian works on a wayward tortoise that cracked its shell after falling off a 10-foot wall in San Diego County. The tortoise is recovering after vets used screws, zip ties and denture material to repair it. County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa says the male 90-pound African spurred tortoise probably was a pet that got loose from a yard. (San Diego County Department of Animal Services via AP)
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This Wednesday, April 18, 2018 photo shows a wayward tortoise as it recovers after it cracked its shell when it fell off of a 10-foot wall in San Diego County. The tortoise is recovering after vets used screws, zip ties and denture material to repair it. County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa says the male 90-pound African spurred tortoise probably was a pet that got loose from a yard. (Daniel DeSousa/San Diego County Department of Animal Services via AP)
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SAN DIEGO — A wayward tortoise that cracked its shell after falling off a 10-foot wall in California is recovering after vets used screws, zip ties and denture material to repair it.
San Diego County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa says the male 90-pound African spurred tortoise probably was a pet that got loose from a yard.
He says it was found on Sunday after falling over the wall while escaping a dog.
DeSousa says the animals shell cracked into three pieces. Veterinarians repaired it Tuesday in a three-hour operation.
The $4,000 cost is covered by the countys Spirit Fund. The tortoise will live with a rescue group.
DeSousa says it will take a year to heal but the 35- to 40-year-old tortoise could have many more decades of life.
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