Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Went to Chinatown in Los Angeles this weekend, Cannot believe what I saw. Hundreds upon hundreds of hatching RES, just a little bigger than a half dollar, stacked in tiny plastic containers with barely any water, and the water they had was filthy. Some had closed puffy eyes, some had abcesses on their ears. I was horrified! I went to each individual peddler and tried to explain to them they needed to be taken care of better, and they just laughed at me! I went around opening containers and putting the little guys right side up because so many were upside down. One man laughed and said they like being upside down and at this point I started yelling at him. My friend had to pull me away, I was so upset. I couldn't possibly rescue all of them, I don't have enough room, but I wanted to.
I know there are worse things going on in this world, but I love animals and I have 2 RES that I rescued, and I hate seeing any animal being mistreated. Is there anyone that knows of an organization or rescue group I can contact? I would gladly help with any rescue. Thank- You, Laura

Try the Board of Health, DEC and or SPCA. This happens in every Chinatown in Across the Country. Stay away from the fish markets there. Nothing like looking at the vats of helpless Softshell turtles, Diamond backed terrapins and other species all tossed around on top of each other waiting to be thrown into soup pots.

As sad as it is I DO NOT recommend buying any of these baby sliders. It's a bitter pill but as long as you buy them -- they replace them. It is better to just keep speaking up and perhaps someone will listen.

They are violating a FEDERAL law by selling those little baby turtles.

my gf bought one in LA but its in great shape

That's nice, but the turtles I saw were far from good shape. I am working on it , and I will do my best to stop these illegal abusing peddlers. I have SPCA and PETA contacts. If I have to go down there and get them myself, that's what I'll do. I am working on finding where the breeders are. I refuse to look away like everyone else and allow this to continue.

Those are all very noble thoughts and words yet I think perhaps they are borne out of a outrage and without much insight into the situation. It is really out of line for you say or think that all others stand back and do nothing while this awful situation goes on.

Please understand that I admire your determination but I think perhaps you need a little background in all of this before you go in guns -a- blazin to rescue a tub of tiny sliders that are sick.

First -- as well you know - it is illegal to sell the little ones to the public for anything other than educational or scientific purposes. So when you see this happening it is advisable for you to report it to the DEC and to the board of health and even perhaps the SPCA.

Generally it falls on deaf ears but if you are persistant an agent from one these organizations may investigate and confiscate the animals.

You SHOULD NOT under any circumstances go and purchase these animals yourself. You are not helping the problem in anyway by going down to the vendor and buying up all the sick turtles. In fact you are helping the practice to continue. WHY? Because you buy that tub of sick animals and tomorrow the vendor buys more. These folks feed on well meaning individuals such as yourself.

Now let's say you rush to aid of these poor sick animals. Now you have a tub of sick sliders at your house. What are you going to do with them? Keep them there until they get better?
Do you have the funds and the facility to house them and get them proper medical treatment? It can be costly and time consuming. So what is your next option if you cannot provide for the animals that are now YOUR responsibility? Hmm give them to rescue organization perhaps? Well that's great option except for one small fact -- most turtle rescues are jammed packed with adult sliders that have been dumped off on them and have a big enough problem trying to place them into homes. We spend tons of money on rehabbing sick and unwanted animals and it your "act of kindness" no matter how well meaning does not cover the $$ and time that it takes to care for these poor creatures that you have taken under your wing.
And again let me reiterate that you have just wasted your time because you have now condemned a bunch more babies to the same fate as the little tub full that you bought.

So let's go another route -- Will your PETA connection take these animals on? Not sure really don't know how PETA would handle this-- however I do know that PETA is of the belief that no animals should be kept as pets. What would they do with these poor sick creatures if they took them on?

SOOO this brings us back to the original and ONLY good option you have. Reporting it to the authorities and pressing the issue until something is done. The turtles will get confiscated (hopefully) and the vendor will be fined. Enough fines may deter the practice of selling the turtles.

Oh and here is one last bit of information for you regarding these animals. When they are confiscated they are needed for evidence generally. So it all falls back on to us (the rescue organizations). If the authorities bother to call us they try to see if we have room to warehouse these turtles as evidence or at least until we can be cleared to find them homes.

Again -- we spend most of the year packed to rafters with dropped off adults, sick and handicapped animals so making the room and taking on the expense (we don't get an allowance for this) is too often NOT an option.

Often we don't get these calls though because many times they just pop the turtles in the deep freeze and keep them for evidence that way.

A sad end to a situation but that is the system.

So you see we DON'T just turn our backs on this situation. It is just a horribly frustrating practice AND 9 out of 10 times the turtles lose.

Many of us have been in your shoes and I admire your determination but you have to fight the battle with the right ammunition. That is why I say DO NOT buy any of these animals. Walk away no matter how much it hurts. Try to educate people against the ills of buying these baby turtles and if demand goes out of the picture then they will stop being sold.

Thank you for caring but please understand that the best intentions, if not executed the right way, will yield no positive change.