An update to the information from Petco regarding their relinquishment "program" states that the turtle supplier that the under 4 inch turtles are to be sent to if relinquished to Petco also sells their turtles to China as food.
This means if you give your tiny turtle to Petco to let it "grow up" at the Concordia Turtle Farm in Louisiana it could theoretically become food in China. While it is regular practice for many people around the world to eat turtle meat, pet owners were under the assumption that relinquished turtles would be kept as pets.
What are your thoughts on this?
ANOTHER UPDATE - I have recently learned that this information may not be true. Apparently the Concordia Turtle Farm does not sell adult turtles for food. Also, there is no partnership with the CDC as previously mentioned. There is a great deal of misinformation floating around from PETA and unfortunately other sources have taken this information as fact and passed it onto other people. Your turtle will not be used as meat if you relinquish it to Petco.
Comments
I think it’s really sad that the turtles relinquished to Petco can end up being sold as People Food to China – however; I would say that the majority of people that even bother to turn the turtles in to Petco won’t care; they just don’t want to be bothered with them any longer.
I think it’s awful that your pet can become food. I think those turned in should be gauranteed their turtles won’t become food in China.