Question about the 4 inch turtle law and online pet stores/breeders

[TortoiseRacket]

2019 update:
Romaine lettuce is now deadlier than turtles under 4"

“All heads of lettuce with less than 5 stalks will be confiscated and a fine will be distributed. The big-box stores like associated and King Kullen already have cut down but mom and pop shops still are breaking this rule.”

 

[Toddrickfl1]

“All heads of lettuce with less than 5 stalks will be confiscated and a fine will be distributed. The big-box stores like associated and King Kullen already have cut down but mom and pop shops still are breaking this rule.”

That's hilarious! Good comeback.

 

[Redfool]

2019 update:
Romaine lettuce is now deadlier than turtles under 4"

My under 4” hatchlings eat romaine lettuce. DOUBLE DEADLY!

 

[Blackdog1714]

My under 4” hatchlings eat romaine lettuce. DOUBLE DEADLY!

Mobile WMD's there!

 

[queen koopa]

2019 update:
Romaine lettuce is now deadlier than turtles under 4"

Dude for real!!! Whats with the romaine always being contaminated!?

 

[Redfool]

Dude for real!!! Whats with the romaine always being contaminated!?

It’s probably watered with “partially” treated waste water. I don’t think anyone really knows “how partially”.

 

[Madkins007]

A few points...

1. Part of the reason the California Turtle and Tortoise Club fought so hard to get the law passed was to help curtail the mass import and sale of baby turtles in the 60's. Millions of the poor things were collected from human waste settling ponds (the source of the Salmonella) and the vast majority of them died within a month. The care sheets, feed, cages, and so on were inhumanely terrible for the poor little sliders. Even recently on this forum or TurtleForum we get well-meaning people looking for those little turtles that can live in a small bowl.

(Note: Red-ear sliders are TERRIBLE pet turtles for most people and the ONLY reason they became popular was because of this period of history when they were so common and easy to collect and ship. Because of this dark period, we now have feral populations of this invasive species pretty much all around the planet.)

2. Turtle based salmonella poisoning is real and still happens. Deaths are fortunately not common but do happen. https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048151.htm

3. The 'education, display, or research' 'exemption DOES NOT EXIST. The law says

• (1) The sale, holding for sale, and distribution of live turtles and viable turtle eggs for bona fide scientific, educational, or exhibitional purposes, other than use as pets". [emphasis mine]
  
  Any pet shop, etc trying to use this dodge probably knows it is trying to skirt the law, or they were too dumb to bother reading it.
  
  4. The law DOES NOT apply to casual hobbyists. One of the stated exceptions is
  • "(2) The sale, holding for sale, and distribution of live turtles and viable turtle eggs not in connection with a business."
  
  
• 5. Salmonella poisoning (and other diseases) from pets happens from almost any animal that lives in contact with its own feces. Aquatic species just have it a little worse than other species do- but this is why we try to make sure people wash their hands after handling most pets.