When choosing a life partner, choose the one that will hold a toilet plunger on a 12lb snapping turtle's head for you.

Going to the vet tomorrow for shell repair under anesthesia. Meanwhile I've been giving fluids and pain meds and, thanks to the plunger, haven't been bit.

Content warning: some blood

Still sleepy but all the pieces are back in place. We use foil HVAC tape secured with a bit of super glue to stabilize the shell until it naturally heals from the inside. Joked with the vet that all my medical supplies come from the hardware store.

And just like that... he's gone. I love helping turtles but they break my heart. I was feeling optimistic when he was awake and moving around this morning.