I Have A Turtle And Can No Longer Care For It…
What Are My Options?
This is a very common problem. There are millions of pet turtles out there without homes. Here at Turtle Rescue League we get calls all the time from people who want us to come and get their turtle or simply drop it off. We are sorry to say we cannot do that. We would be quickly overwhelmed with turtles, unable to help our native species, or special needs turtles, or even to care for the flood of incoming pets.
TRL loves turtles, but no agency could simply take in all turtles that people declare they no longer want. TURTLES ARE THE MOST ABANDONED PET IN THE UNITED STATES. The problem is so bad that in some other countries, they have banned the importation of non-native turtles. Do not lose hope, there are always options and we can work with you. If you love your turtle, you will put in the effort to help it. There are several options for you, read on.
NEVER RELEASE A PET TURTLE INTO THE WILD – WE CAN HELP YOU FIND A BETTER, LEGAL AND ETHICAL SOLUTION FOR YOU AND YOUR TURTLE
Turtles can be among the easiest pets to care for. If you are struggling with properly maintaining your turtle and its habitat, you may be falling victim to one of the common turtle care errors. Click here to see the most common care errors and easy ways of fixing them!
Can’t care because – I can’t afford them
Glass tanks and hobby aquarium equipment is expensive! Do what the rescues do, and learn to house turtles for less!
Can’t care because – I’m always cleaning
All your hard work is a result of bad online information. Find out the most common care mistakes and their easy solutions!
Can’t care because – I am headed to college
Turtles are incredibly long-lived. The four years you are away at college is a mere blink in the eyes of your turtle. Use family and friends as temporary homes until you are once again in a stable environment.
Option one: Be creative!
There are cheap and easy ways of updating your habitat that will allow you to keep your pet. If you truly wish to keep your pet, we can help you find ways of making this a viable solution, and it is always the best option.
Option two: Find local resources
Seek out resources that are local to you. The closer they are to you, the quicker your animal will find placement. There are very few reptile shelters out there than can take your turtles, but there are many organizations that can work with you to help find your turtle a new home. If you are willing to work with them, they will be happy to work with you.
CHECK HERE FOR LOCAL HELP IF YOU ARE NOT NEAR TURTLE RESCUE LEAGUE
Option three: Re-home your turtle on your own
There are great resources available that you can utilize on your own. Post on Facebook, put an ad on Craigslist, or use specific sites such as turtleforum.com. These are all great options, just make sure to screen interested parties before you give them your pets. Not everyone is a qualified home.
You can also make an ad in your local newspaper, or post flyers on community bulletin boards in your town. The possibilities are endless, you just have to know where to look.
Option four: Open a placement case with TRL
If none of these options work, we would be glad to open a placement case for you. Be warned that the farther you are from us, the longer it will take to place your turtles. We cannot accept turtles into our facility, you will need to provide care for your turtle in the meantime until we are able to locate a new home.
To open a placement case with Turtle Rescue League, click here.