I walked into my room to check on the garters and noticed a head peering out from beneath one of the bricks. It seemed nonrespondent, so I picked the brick up and, horrified, saw that the lungs of one of my garter snakes had been crushed partially. I rushed him under a light to see if there was anything I could do, but to no avail. He was still breathing, only in one part of his lung, but his body was limp. I decided that instead of freezing him, as my parents suggested, the quickest and least painful method of euthanizing him was decapitation. So, I solemnly decapitated him. I can't believe this could happen. I removed the bricks right away and will NEVER use them again. I feel so bad for him though, but I'm comforted by the fact that he's now in snake heaven eating pinkies, and that it was God's will.