Teddy is now up for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society.
A Russian tortoise (Testudo [Agrionemys] horsfieldii) was brought into the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine in San Diego with a gaping hole in its shell just above the shoulder, and a veterinarian at the center got creative in patching the shell.
Dr. Daniel Barbour, told Fox 5 San Diego that he went to the local Home Depot and purchased a screen repair kit and some fiberglass epoxy to help patch the tortoise’s shell. “I did have to get a little bit creative,” Barbour said. “I’ve never done something like this before.”
Barbour sanded the damaged area and then patched the shell with the epoxy and applied the screen repair for added strength. Barbour then implanted a microchip into the tortoise’s leg in the event he gets lost again.
The tortoise, now named Teddy, is available for adoption at the San Diego Humane Society.
Russian tortoises grow to about 8 to 10 inches and can live for more than 40 years. They are widely captive bred and due to their size, are ideal for those with limited space to keep them.
