Salmonella and Small Turtles

Stephanie L.
4 years ago

I agree it's a bad idea to lift the ban.

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J O.
4 years ago

Laws aren't helpful if they aren't enforced. People need to be smart enough to not buy a cute tiny turtle on impulse, but they aren't. I think education is key-although many people will always see animals as disposable.

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Ethan W.
4 years ago

Why, with all the problems without outbreaks of salmonella lately, would this even be considered?

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Michele C.
4 years ago

I have the same questions. Makes you wonder WHO is "lobbying" our govermental officials for this repeal.

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Wanda & Veronica ;.
4 years ago

I agree with you.

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BHOLTZ
4 years ago

I don;t think these turtles should be sold in pet stores

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marc h.
4 years ago

I think there's enough sources of salmonela out there, we don't need another

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Betty W.
4 years ago

They shouldn't repeal the law.

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Beth M.
4 years ago

Then why do I see people on the side of the road selling turtles if it's against the law?

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Beccasooner
4 years ago

Hand washing is a key element in health and this law needs to be carefully reviewed.

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Jessica T.
4 years ago

I don't think the law was being followed very well, and the law was only in place due to mass panic. However, my neighbor's child was hospitalized with salmonella after forgetting to wash her hands after playing with her turtle. I think children just shouldn't be allowed to be around pets by themselves until they are at the age where they can understand the importance of hand washing, etc.

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Geoff L.
4 years ago

Very interesting...I do wonder how they enforce this. That's why pet stores need to be inspected.

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Sarah W.
4 years ago

Interesting. This is why children should always wash their hands before and after handling such a animal.

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Andy K.
4 years ago

I was not aware that there was such a law. It seems like a good idea that there is such a law but if there is no funding for enforcement, there's no point to it.

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Meg S.
4 years ago

I had a couple of turtles when I was young. I remember being disappointed that they really did not do very much and they died after a few months. I had the little plastic tank with the ramp and the palm tree.....poor turtles. Sorry ...

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Michaelyn
4 years ago

Don't forget about the ecology - turtles are already harvested for foreign pet and food trade. Let's not add to it.

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Gail
4 years ago

I agree.

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Oldmaidcatwoman
4 years ago

I have to agree with many of the commenters that I don't think they should repeal the law. Better for the children, better for the turtles.

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Keri W.
4 years ago

I think the law should not be repealed.

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Don G.
4 years ago

I believe the law should stay in place for all involved. small turtles are not toys and if the law is repealed parents will start to buy them as such.

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Michelle H.
5 years ago

The current law seems important for both animal and human safety.

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Hauler
5 years ago

I read about this years ago and am always cautious when anyone has a turtle and tell them as well.

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Cindy Q.
5 years ago

I think children should be alerted and told to wash their hands after playing with animals. Every time I pet my dog and it's time to eat or something, I have my Hand Sanitizer

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Dsnyder
5 years ago

Why is the law under consideration for change? I wonder who is lobbying for this change? Don't turtles larger than 4" carry it too--what makes the small ones specifically identified?

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Emily
5 years ago

Not all reptiles carry it, and not all animals that carry it are reptiles! Salmonella is carried in the animal's stool, so any animal that soaks in water with their waste or climbs about their cage on top of waste can carry the disease. Here's a "fun fact" about the small turtle law - I used to work at a pet store and people often questioned why it was OK to sell turtles larger than 4". The answer is that the law was passed to prevent these small turtles from making it into the hands of children who are able to fit the turtles IN THEIR MOUTHS! This, of course, is a direct route to contracting salmonella if the pet is a carrier. Washing hands after touching any pet or their home is always the best solution!

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PAULDESNOYERS
5 years ago

Salmonella is a scary thing.

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esther d.
5 years ago

Interesting. I will write to the agency.

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EK4567
5 years ago

Wow.

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Alex J.
5 years ago

I am glad they are getting them but it is to hard because people can hide them.I want to know if there is a cure and if people could start to use it

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Ashlee S.
5 years ago

Interesting, never heard this fact before!!!

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Chrissy
5 years ago

O my.

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Jacob H.
5 years ago

good to see this

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Jdarunner
5 years ago

baby turtles are adorable but they are probably carrying around salmonella!!!

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kristie n.
5 years ago

i don't think children should be allowed to have turtles as a pet

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amy a.
5 years ago

very informative-it's too bad that these little animals can get people so sick

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Joann B.
5 years ago

Informative article. Thanks for bringing it to the public's attention.

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5doxiemom
5 years ago

Again I say" WASH HANDS "after handling pet turtles. I love my turtles they make great pets and they are fairly easy to take care of.

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Carryl D.
5 years ago

Turtles make good pets. You need to wash your hands after handling them though. Anything illegal should, obviously, be avoided.

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Kate
5 years ago

I inadvertently bought 2 small turtles, not realising what they were. I had no idea what the expenses would be for these 2/$10 critters, and the sad thing is that most people won't invest in these little guys. They deserve better than what most people give them if they buy them as cute little things.

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D. Rene
5 years ago

Interesting.....

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Samiam001413
5 years ago

poor turtles

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Jill6Johnson
5 years ago

cute but can be dangerous pet. listen to the news on them

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Rebecca
5 years ago

Have your reptiles tested. It's as easy as taking a poo sample to the local reptile vet. We did it with our iguana to make sure all was well.

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Barbara K.
5 years ago

Those pet turtles died really soon after you got them (this was when I was a kid in the 60's). I think people thought they were a relatively carefree pet.

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Hea23th
5 years ago

I bought a small red eared slider years ago. Got her in Myrtle Beach. I still have her -she's like 10 years old now. I take good care of her, clean the water, and take proper precautions. I think the problem is that people just don't keep the water sanitary.

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Jim S.
5 years ago

anything that can be done to help prevent this is a good thing. In our area we keep an eye out for too small of a turtle.

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Hymcheng
5 years ago

I didn't know that turtles carry salmonella. I had pet turtles as a kid but never got sick.

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Tanya F.
5 years ago

Wht are they going to reverse a law that has benefited both turtles and people. Do they have a shortage of things that need fixed to worry about nonsense such as this. Well, a couple of years from now after many turtles died and kids have gotten sick they will have to go back to banning it. Talk about going in circles.

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SandyReedy
5 years ago

Just another tragic outcome of the trend toward decreased government regulation. Come on, people! If the government doesn't watch out for us, who will? Certainly not the profiteering money grubbers who are only interested in lining their own pockets! What turtle dealer has a pipeline to the White House? I get four dollar a gallon gas--Big oil runs the country--but what is this with the sale of little turtles, a danger not only to humans but fatal to the little creatures themselves?

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Iseeurn
5 years ago

wash those hands!

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Jess L.
5 years ago

I didn't know they carried salmonella... I had a turtle when I was younger too. I guess he was salmonella free!

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Merrell R.
5 years ago

When we were kids we had little turtles like this but I didn't think it was legal to sell them anymore. Haven't seen them in years. They were easy to care for and good for people who couldn't have dogs/cats, etc.

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3kittymom
5 years ago

Having worked in a public health lab, I can attest to the Salmonella infections related to pet turtles. Ironically, I had turtles as a child (as did many of my friends), and don't remember any problems!

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