What About Personal Responsibility?
Unfortunately, these companies that try to skirt the regulations are only doing so because there are still lots of people who will buy these baby turtles. Obviously, it would be ideal that anyone who decides to get a turtle knows what they are getting into. They should also be aware of the risks of Salmonella and take proper precautions to prevent infections, making bans on baby turtle sales unecessary in the first place. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world. Sites like mine exist in an effort to educate pet owners, but a lot of people probably don't look up my information until after thay have committed to a new pet. Companies that sell baby turtles in contravention of the ban must know that they are taking advantage of some people who can't resist a baby turtle (or whose kids can't resist) and do not know fully what they are getting into, whether it be the care requirements in the long term or the potential for Salmonlla infection.
But I Am a Good Turtle Owner!
I know there are a lot of good owners out there. And yes, some of the people who get hatchlings before realizing what they have gotten into become excellent owners too, investing in the equipment their new turtles need as soon as they realize what it takes to properly raise a turtle. Why should good turtle owners be denied access to hatchlings based on the irrepsonsibility of some other owners? It does seem kind of unfair. But here is a scary statistic: experts estimate that as many as 90 percent of pet turtles die in their first year of captivity. Even if that is a gross overestimate, and only half that number die, it means a shockingly high number of turtles die at the hands of inexperienced owners. If every person that sold hatchlings was honest about the needs of turtles in the long term, and educated owners about the proper care of turtles (including how to prevent Salmonella transmission) then it would be a lot easier to support the sales of turtle hatchlings. Until the day comes, I will support a law that might save the lives of turtles, even if that is not the original intent of the law.
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