STORM2K

This surprised me! For several days there were a couple trucks on a busy highway corner with signs that simply said "TURTLES". Each time we passed by they seemed to have customers.

On the second day, there was also a sign saying "IGUANAS". Somehow, this does not seem like it would be legal.

Anybody know??.......p

Selling turtles here in Toronto is technically illegal... something to do with the turtles carrying the threat of salmonella. I'm not sure, I only found this out a few years ago as I wanted to buy a couple small ones for my aquarium..and went to the pet store and thats what they told me.

But if you wanted, you can still buy them in some selected stores, but its not legal.
They definetly don't advertise it though.

-justin-

To my knowledge it is illegal to sell animals on the roadside, I don;t know about AZ but in PA you need a license to sell reptiles ( and I would never ever buy a reptile from a petstore let alone on the roadside!!!! They aren't getting the care they require!!! Breeders only is where I would buy any reptile)

It is illegal. You should call and report this.

Thank you Linda! We thought so too. My daughter immediately called both the Prescott Humane Society and Animal Control.....both just "ho-hummed" her interest and feigned no knowlege of any laws .

She notified exact location (across from Young's Farm, Azsnowman) They were still there the following two days. We felt bad. It was hovering in the high nineties....and it looked like they had the turtles in open tubs in the back of their trucks.......p

That's terrible...

Hearing stuff like this makes me sick, a lot of people have no respect for reptiles, if i was only closer these poor things would be rescued. Hey I got an idea, I googled and maybe these folks can help:

http://www.dmreptilerescue.com/

Give them a call and see

Selling exotic animals on the roadside is WRONG!!!

D & M's Reptile Rescue and Rehabilitation

David McKnight and Melanie Shroyer

Phone (520) 616-0166 Cell (520) 977-2766

Email - dmreptilerescue@aol.com

Iam looking for (but have not yet found) regulations about selling turtles and other reptiles here in AZ. Generally speaking, it is frowned upon if for no other reason than that roadside stands have little if any regulation. My suspicion is that there are regulations against it...especially a species known as wood turtles.

Since a large amount of geography here in the desert is also Native American reservation land, it could be that they have unique regulations too.

Nevertheless, it's a bad practice. I owned small turtles as a child in Illinois and I bought them at the equivalent of a K-Mart! None survived beyond a couple of years not because of my care, but because they just need their natural environment to thrive.

If they're desert tortoises, they're protected and it's against the law to sell them:

http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/ ... MHpr03.htm

Thank you all for your replies!

I have emailed the "reptilerescue" as suggested. Amazing that calling what we thought were the "proper authorities" had no results.......p

I'm sure that Dennis will be along soon to see this.

I used to own red-earred water turtles when I was a little girl as pets when I lived in NY. I believe it is now illegal in NY and NJ to "own" them.

petal*pusher wrote:Thank you all for your replies!

I have emailed the "reptilerescue" as suggested. Amazing that calling what we thought were the "proper authorities" had no results.......p

Excellent.

It is sad that doing the right thing came up with "ho hums" Ya know, they have bosses too.

I think one has to call the Fish and Wildlife folks in AZ. They usually respond pretty quickly in my experiences.

(Hoping Dennis will see this if I bump it up.....)

So far NO reply to my email to the reptilerescue people....p

petal*pusher wrote:(Hoping Dennis will see this if I bump it up.....)

So far NO reply to my email to the reptilerescue people....p

PM Dennis as well. He may see that before he sees this thread.

I hope that they will reply back to you soon!

Honestly, I don't know petal.....wish I could help more but I tend to agree with everyone, selling an exotic animal such as a turtle is illegal as all get out! I know here in the White Mountains we have TONS of people selling puppies from puppy mills up here we (the cities of Show Low/Pinetop/Lakeside/Springerville/Eagar are TRYING to get this activity bannned but YOU know local government and politicians

This makes me sick. Here in the "Funshine State", we always have some loser hawking turtles or sun-ripened shrimp or flowers or whatever. I've seen the stacks of little plastic shoeboxes, each with some waste-filled water and a few turtles sloshing around. The a-hole stacks them in the sweltering old rust-bucket van and drives around, letting them suffer. The "law" and "officials" couldn't care less. They roust 'em and they just drive off a little ways and set up again. And don't ya just love those flea-market turds with the "pet shops". The filthy aquariums and birdcages - all overcrowded with pathetic and doomed little critters. I think that one day I am just going to smash in some teeth at one of these places.

I'll join you!