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 said the male 90-pound African spurred tortoise probably was a pet that got loose from a yard.
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He said it was found on Sunday after falling over the wall while escaping a dog.
DeSousa said the animal's shell cracked into three pieces. Veterinarians repaired it Tuesday in a three-hour operation.
The $4,000 cost is covered by the county's Spirit Fund. The tortoise will live with a rescue group.
DeSousa said it will take a year to heal but the 35- to 40-year-old tortoise could have many more decades of life.
