turtle law

[smd58]

Do you think the law should be changed?

That law has to be the most broken law in the land. I still see them sold in stores, give aways at fairs. People want them, but most people will not spend the money to keep them correct.

[JLC]

I'm assuming you mean the law that says you can't sell baby turtles under 4" in diameter as pets?

I've heard (somewhere...don't remember where) that the law was repealed. But I still see turtle sellers quoting it in their ads. Who knows? If I understand right, it was created in the first place because of a fear that little children would stick a quarter-sized turtle in their mouth and contract salmonella. And I do think it's an absolutely ridiculous law that should be stricken from the books.

The issue of them being seen as "disposable pets" is an entirely different matter and I don't think the 4" rule has anything to do with it. It's just a sad fact of life that people think small, inexpensive animals don't require the same respect or commitment that larger, pricier, or fuzzier animals do.

My sister bought a pair of quarter-sized RES's for her daughter because she believed they would be very simple little pets for her young daughter to learn to care for. The pet store she bought them at did not bother to tell her the truth. Fortunately for those turtles, my sister takes her responsibilities seriously, and she grew as a turtle keeper just as the turtles grew. But it's all too common that when someone realizes the cute little green coin with feet won't stay that way, they simply let it go in the back yard, or try to keep it in a 10 gallon tank half-full of murky water.

[mainbutter]

And I do think it's an absolutely ridiculous law that should be stricken from the books.

The issue of them being seen as "disposable pets" is an entirely different matter and I don't think the 4" rule has anything to do with it.

Exactly. The loopholes in it basically mean the law is meaningless anyways.

[txherp]

I am iffy on this one. The law is stupid, but if it is not in place then I fear seeing baby red ears in cups for sale at Walmart...

I do think that there should be a BAN on the sale of red eared sliders, they are the most invasive species of turtle in the world. They also make horrible pets because of tehir size. So cute as babies and then grow up into a huge turtle that nobody wants. I volunteer for a local turtle rescue and every day we get calls and emails just like "I bought this red ear as a baby but now it has gotten too big and we can't afford to keep buying bigger tanks." Those are just the people who contact the rescue...