PET TURTLES CAUSE ILLNESS
There is news this morning about pet turtles causing salmonella infection.
I have always been against the sale of pet turtles and NEVER bought them for my kids. They were very popular when I was growing up, and I may have had a few; I do not remember.
I think this is a cruel and unnecessary practice which should not be allowed. These animals are being removed from their natural environment, sent to pet stores and sold to kids who play with them in their glass bowels for a while, overfeed them or forget to feed them probably, lose interest, and these animals die.
We bought our kids gerbils and hamsters and we took good care of them. We certainly did not expect our children to be totally responsible for their care. We accepted the responsibility and they lived for a long time! My ex-husband and I enjoyed playing with them!
Children should help their parents take care of animals and not the other way around!
Comments and feedback are welcome!
Bunzo
Are these those small ones? Or the larger ones? I don't remember the names of them. When I was growing up I had a friend with two pretty good sized turtles that lived near a back yard pond, I am not sure that you would refer to them actually as pets, except that she was responsible for putting out their food every day and you could kind of hang out with them. They were pretty cool. They were still around her parents home when she got married; she got married in their back yard!
Lots of "pets" can cause the salmonella infection, such as iguanas. When my boys were growing up they wanted an iguana, I said NO. So for my 35th birthday with the assistance of their father guess what I got -- you got it an iguana. Little tiny thing that grow to be approximately 4' 7" nose to tail. He actually was pretty cool but hard to take care of. We built him a very grand home in the back yard with running water and a pond, part of a living tree to climb and a view (probably why he grew so big. Originally he was inside with us and he also had an indoor home for bad weather. He walked on a leash and halter and he was very tame, loved having his crest scratched. His name was Julius Iggy Caesar. Ultimately I found another home, that had 3 females and great conditions, for him when he started to need to mate and I was moving to Singapore.
I agree with you though Bunzo, some animals should not be pets. The reason I didn't want an Iguana was they should not be pets and I didn't want the responsibility.
Uh, sorry but this really isn't news. It has been well known for at least 20 years that reptiles and salmonella go together like peanut butter and jelly.
If you keep a reptile, wash your hands and don't get them for children.
Tess
All,
Thanks for the note about caring for specific pets and animals who should not be pets at all.
Hopefully, the more that people know about the proper treatment and care for their animals, the less they will want to "experiment" with species who do not tolerate negligence and/or who do not make good pets at all. Informed and caring adults are the ones to take on these kinds of animals. Kids can't be expected to know about and care for exotic species.
If we don't buy certain pets, we will see less of them available in the future. Maybe someday we will see the end of selling unsuitable pets in the marketplace entirely.
Hey Tess-
This helped me because I didn't know.
I tend to stick with critters that have fur, and are rescued. Shows you how much I have paid attention the last 20 years! It makes sense, though, when you think about it.
Thanks for your post. You opened my eyes.
Peace,
TG
Thanks to you too, Bunzy, for the info and awareness. Like I told Tess, you'd think I was living under a rock!
All the Best,
TG
Great post Bunzo, thanks! I love reptiles, but few people know how to properly care for them.
Thanks for caring.......
tb:)
You're welcome! Glad to see you here and everywhere you care to be.
LValDean, to answer your question, I am talking about very tiny turtles that were a popular item in pet stores when I was growing up. In fact, people used to paint or draw intricate designs on their shells. When their shells became soft, that was the beginning of the end.
I do not think these little reptiles should be sold to anyone. They belong in their natural habitat.
Bunzo