A Shell Game
“While
turtles might seem like the perfect pet…there are a few things to keep in mind
before buying one.
‘They
are definitely becoming more popular as pets. Some of them are very
beautiful…But there’s no such thing as an easy
pet,’ says Katrina Smith, adoptions co
coordinator for the Maryland based Mid-Atlantic
Turtle & Tortoise Society.
Consider
the Source
…’Look into adopting a turtle from your local
turtle society before buying one.’…
Some
states, such as New Jersey, require permits for pet turtles, largely due to
concerns
about already stressed out populations of native
turtles, Smith says. Be sure to check local
laws before deciding what kind of turtle to
adopt, Smith says.
Health
& Safety
Because
many turtles carry salmonella, young children, the elderly, pregnant women,
&
others should avoid contact with turtles or be
extra careful to wash their hands thoroughly
after touching them…
Dave
Pauli, a senior adviser for wildlife response & policy for the Humane
Society of
the United States, runs a large turtle &
tortoise rescue & rehabilitation centre in Montana.
He
stresses the importance of ‘good hygiene protocol’ when taking a turtle into a
home.
The
Centres for Disease Control & Prevention urge people to treat all turtles
as if they
are contaminated with salmonella because they
probably are.
Wash
hands thoroughly after touching turtles, their cages, or their feces, & do
not touch
your face, other people, or any surface until
you’ve washed your hands.
Picking
the Right One
Some
turtles that start out small can grow to the size of a garbage can lid, so do
your
homework when selecting a type & gender of
turtle to call your own. In many species,
females grow to be much larger than their male
counterparts, Smith says.
‘Turtles require more maintenance & space than most people generally
assume,’ Pauli
says, ‘& they live for decades, so buyers
should be aware that they are a pet that may out
live them.’
Turtles
also require a varied & somewhat messy diet, room to roam in an aquarium,
&
strict temperature control.
Get to
Know Your Turtle
Turtles
can be beautiful pets & ‘are really cool to have,’ Pauli says. ‘They’re
extremely
interesting & have individual
personalities…”
Katherine Roth
The Associated Press
In The Gazette, Montreal
July 27/2018
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