While your statements sound reasonable, it really won't change things needing change. As Tom brought out, things will never be perfect because of human nature. As a rescue worker yourself, you know the challenges of trying to educate and inform people. There will always be those who will breed recklessly for a buck, not caring who get the hatchling, and not caring if it's raised badly. Can you stop those people from breeding? You know you can't. So why would people try to scare people into believing that sulcatas are taking homes away from the DT? Why would some make the sulcata a scapegoat? Why give the government more reasons to step in and infringe on the rights of all people to stop buying, selling, or breeding sullies? Like Tom mentioned, why give our enemies more ammunition to go after tortoise lovers?
tortoiselady said:Hello,
Never a dull moment on TF I want to make a comment and ask a few questions, but mostly I want to keep receiving notices about this thread as I am very interested.
My comment - early in this thread someone mentioned expensive adoption fees, yard inspections, must return it if you don't keep it yourself, can take it back at anytime if it is decided you are doing wrong with it, can't breed, and must sign a crazy contract...Something along those lines - no quote here. To me this does sound extreme. A large adoption fee, can take back at anytime if it is decided you are doing wrong with it specifically I think is overboard. But I do find some of the rest of it may hold water for me - as we are doing opinions here.
If a rescue is entrusted with an animal to find it a new good loving home and they do not check the new habitat is that really doing the job they were entrusted with? If you are a good home what are you hiding one must ask? If you had to give up your tortoise/animal would you not care if the new home was looked into or just anyone can have your beloved pet that asks for it? These are not easy shoes to fill - have you walked in them?
Next, breeding obviously goes against a rescue as that is only adding work to their load. Why hold it against a rescue for trying to keep their work load reasonable? They are after all getting these animals turned into them so they do exist.
Food for though - crazy contracts with the description I read I would have to agree. But what is wrong with a contract that is mostly to inform of what you are doing and allows the rescue recognition for their work with the authorities. Rescues can be audited by the authorities too and if they don't dot their i's and cross their t's they could lose the the right and capability to do a much needed job.
I am a rescue worker so breeding isn't for me. With that said, I do see the importance of quality breeders who share extremely important information with the pet public. I happen to think Tom (southern CA Dog Trainer) is an excellent example. There is respect for the species, accountability for what he breeds, and certainly he takes responsibility. The information he shares is invaluable. On the other hand there are plenty who are not any of those things and that is where I would disagree with breeding. So, I vote for more education as I am not a fan of the government
Answer away, but please let's play nice after all everyone here is a tortoise lover so we are connected