How do I get rid of a pet turtle?

Question

I live in Miami, FL and my daughter received a small turtle as a gift. She no longer wants it, I can't give it back to where it came from, I don't want to keep it in the tank, nor release it into the wild. Does anyone have an idea how to humanely get rid of it at no cost?

Answer 1

Thanks for not wanting to release it to the wild. They are not supposed to be released to the wild because as captive they are not raised with all of the germs and bacteria in the wild and their immune systems can not handle the wild. It will die. Put an ad in the local newspaper, take it to an animal shelter*, give it away, try a pet store, if they don't take it ask to put up signs saying "free turtle" . Good luck, I hope he goes to a well deserving home and gets taken care of propely. Thanks for caring about it instead of ditching it on the side of the road.

Oh and try to find a turtle forum and ask if anybody if FL wants a turtle. Im sure there will be a lot of grabs for it

Answer 2

Good option:
- offer it free to a good home though an on-line turtle adoption site (http://www.turtleforum.com for example) or flyers at your local pet shop.

OK option:
- Animal rescues- these poor folk get all sorts of unwanted animals like this, and poor Red-ear Sliders usually cost them far more to raise then they can get for adopting them.

Absolute Last Resort Option that no one wants to talk about or think about- euthanize it by freezing it. It is not perfectly humane, and adoption is a million times better, but the way you worded your question made me think that maybe you were looking for this sort of option.

Understand- I LOVE turtles and a lot of other pets and I am a big believer in the 'if you take this on, you have a duty' rule of pet keeping. However, there are also situations where you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

As much as I abhor euthanizing an 'inconvenient pet', I am far more against the idea of releasing it and all the problems that can cause for the wild populations.

I know this answer will make a lot of people mad, and it is going to get a lot of negative points- but if you have exhausted your other options, there is this one to fall back on.

Answer 3

See, this is why animals should not be given as gifts.

I don't think you can get rid of it for free, unless someone answers a 'free to a good home' ad for a turtle. Even so, most newspapers charge, and there's no guaruntee whoever answers your ad actually WILL give it a good home.

No cost? No can do. Low cost? Maybe.

If you are willing to spend a bit of money, your local animal shelter or a reptile rescue centre might be willing to take it. They often charge a small fee for the animals care until it's adopted.

Unless you find a no-kill organization, the turtle will probably be euthanized if it isn't adopted in a set amount of time. Lethal injections given to animals by trained vets are considered humane, but you will have to pay for it if you get the turtle euthanized without surrendering it to a shelter first.

Whatever you do, DO NOT release this turtle into the wild. It will either die a slow death of starvation and disease, get killed and eaten by a predator, or survive too well and put local wildlife at risk. This is NOT humane, and if you are caught you will be charged with animal abandonment, and possibly animal abuse or neglect as well. I don't know what the punishments are down there, but here in Canada you can go to jail for that.

Answer 4

Well, Yahoo! Answers isn't going to be a good option for relocating a turtle; this is like relocating a dog and they are expensive to take care of and not throw away pets. You wouldn't say "I don't want it anymore" about a dog when in fact turtles are more expensive/harder to take care of.

Here are your options.

1) Give it to a friend, however, warn them that the costs will be high and they will need at least $300 but if using a glass tank over $1,000 for the proper habitat.

2)Try Craigslist-just enter your location and put it in that your looking for a good home for your turtle; again, warn of the costs.

3) Try adoption agencies such as http://www.turtlehomes.org and for Florida try Turtle Rescue USA. Turtletimes.com and petfinder.com may also work.

4) Visit this link for more information http://www.redearslider.com/links_adoptions_rescues.html

Yeah, you're right down there madkins-that answer doesn't make me too happy. If someone can't find a good home they haven't tried hard enough.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Do you know if it's a red-eared slider or a type of cooter? Does it have a red blotch on each side of the head? If so, it's a red-eared slider. It is now (as of July 1st) illegal to sell red-eared sliders in FL, so a pet store probably will not take it. An animal control or humane society might take it. Also, you can call the Florida state wildlife agency (should be in the blue pages of the phone book or search on-line), as they will take unwanted sliders for free.

Whatever you do, DO NOT release it. If it's a red-eared slider, it IS NOT native to Florida - that's why they made it illegal to sell them there. Red-eared sliders were being dumped and interbreeding with the yellowbellied sliders that are native to Florida.

You can also try finding a rescue in your area by searching www.petfinder.com to see if there is a turtle rescue that can take it.

Answer 6

Since you are far away i can't take it but, but if you have a craigslist.com out there you can try to find a new home for the lil guy. You can give it away as a gift to someone you know. Just don't put it outside somewhere. since he has been in a home, he may not adapt to natural habitate and die. You also can try and call some of your local pet stores or shelter near by and see if you can drop him off. Good luck with him!

Answer 7

A pet store will probably take it. Also call the ASPCA.There are turtle rescue groups.

Answer 8

There should be plenty of pet shops that deal with reptiles in your area that might be inclined to take your turtle off your hands.

Answer 9

I live in the sarasota/bradenton area. if you can get it to me somehow i will take it for you. the turtle would have a good home with me, i already own several different kinds and have done so for 11 yrs.

Answer 10

Try calling a pet store near you. Since they sell them there they would probably take yours.