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In September 2023, our founder, lead rehabber, and Executive Director, Christy Milbourne, was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, this has necessitated the temporary closing of the Central office of CMTR. This means we will not be accepting any new patients at our Central office until Christy has completed her treatments and kicked cancer to the curb. Our Northern office is still open and operational. Additionally, several rescues around the state have graciously offered to help out as much as possible with turtles during this time. Check out our Contact Us page for more information.
We're sorry for this temporary closing. It was not an easy decision. It was, in fact, a heartbreaking one. We will be back in action just as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience during this time. |
Surrendering a Pet Turtle
Do you have a turtle that you can no longer care for? We can help.
Pet Surrender
We will gladly take in your pet turtle and try to find him or her a new permanent home if we have space to do so. Please note, however, that we are not a sanctuary. This means that we will unfortunately not be able to keep your turtle here permanently. We have a thorough and exhaustive adoption process, however, that will allow us to find your pet the very best new home.
Does it cost anything to surrender a turtle?
Although not required, we do ask that you consider making a donation of $25 or more when/if you surrender a turtle to us. Feeding and housing your turtle while he/she awaits permanent placement can be quite costly. Any amount you can give to help offset the cost of care for your pet is greatly appreciated.
Maybe you'd just like ideas to make it possible to keep your turtle
If you'd prefer, we can also work with you to try and build a better home arrangement for you and your turtle that could possibly allow you to keep your turtle rather than surrendering him. There are many innovative and cost-saving ways to keep turtles, and we will happily share with you our tricks and secrets that may help keep you and your pet together.
Help with Direct Adoption
We are also happy to help you find an adopter directly (without you having to surrender the turtle to us) by sharing an adoption post for you on our Facebook page. If you'd like us to do that for you, send us an email to turtlerescuems@gmail.com with the following information:
Whatever you do...DO NOT RELEASE ANY TURTLE THAT YOU HAVE KEPT IN YOUR HOME AS A PET. In many places in the U.S., it is illegal to do that. Plus, you're doing a great disservice to not only your turtle, but all the turtles he or she may come into contact with once he's back out in the wild. While turtles never forget how to be turtles, ones that have been kept in captivity are at a marked disadvantage in the wild.
In short, releasing a turtle that has been kept as a pet is potentially harmful to both your turtle, and to the wild populations of turtles he would encounter in the wild. Never release pet turtles. "Once a pet, always a pet".
If surrendering, we take in all species of pet turtles...except one...
Pet Surrender
We will gladly take in your pet turtle and try to find him or her a new permanent home if we have space to do so. Please note, however, that we are not a sanctuary. This means that we will unfortunately not be able to keep your turtle here permanently. We have a thorough and exhaustive adoption process, however, that will allow us to find your pet the very best new home.
Does it cost anything to surrender a turtle?
Although not required, we do ask that you consider making a donation of $25 or more when/if you surrender a turtle to us. Feeding and housing your turtle while he/she awaits permanent placement can be quite costly. Any amount you can give to help offset the cost of care for your pet is greatly appreciated.
Maybe you'd just like ideas to make it possible to keep your turtle
If you'd prefer, we can also work with you to try and build a better home arrangement for you and your turtle that could possibly allow you to keep your turtle rather than surrendering him. There are many innovative and cost-saving ways to keep turtles, and we will happily share with you our tricks and secrets that may help keep you and your pet together.
Help with Direct Adoption
We are also happy to help you find an adopter directly (without you having to surrender the turtle to us) by sharing an adoption post for you on our Facebook page. If you'd like us to do that for you, send us an email to turtlerescuems@gmail.com with the following information:
- The species of the turtle (common names are fine)
- The sex of the turtle, if known
- The turtle's history (include when you got him, where you got him, any medical info, etc.)
- The turtle's size (Measure the turtle's carapace [top shell] in a straight line from front to back. And give us his weight.)
- Any other information you think is important
- List any accessories (tanks, filters, lights, food, etc.) that you would be willing to send with the turtle
- Photos of the turtle (include the face, the body top and bottom, and any "cute" photos that might help find an adopter)
- A contact number or email address that we can post publicly with the post on our Facebook page (We won't be able to field any questions or facilitate the adoption. It will simply be a courtesy share, so we have to have a phone number or email address for people to send questions or inquiries.)
Whatever you do...DO NOT RELEASE ANY TURTLE THAT YOU HAVE KEPT IN YOUR HOME AS A PET. In many places in the U.S., it is illegal to do that. Plus, you're doing a great disservice to not only your turtle, but all the turtles he or she may come into contact with once he's back out in the wild. While turtles never forget how to be turtles, ones that have been kept in captivity are at a marked disadvantage in the wild.
- In captivity, they're used to getting their food brought to them, they don't have to worry about predators, their temperatures and environment are always controlled and safe, and there is little to no competition for resources. This will not be the case for him if you release him.
- In captivity, turtles are exposed to pathogens and bacteria that are not found in the wild. If you release your turtle, he or she then takes those germs with him to the wild where he will encounter other wild turtles. Those wild turtles, having never been exposed to those specific germs, may not be able to tolerate them, and the germs could make them sick.
- Your pet turtle associates humans with his food supply. In the wild, turtles need to be suspicious and fearful of humans. Not all humans are nice to turtles. In fact, here in the south, turtles are commonly consumed for food.
- If you release your turtle when it's cold out (in Mississippi, that's generally November through the end of March), he likely will not survive. Turtles need a natural cool-down, and their stomachs need to be completely void of food before they can brumate (reptile version of hibernation). Throwing one from a heated tank into the wild during the cold months will not end well for your turtle.
In short, releasing a turtle that has been kept as a pet is potentially harmful to both your turtle, and to the wild populations of turtles he would encounter in the wild. Never release pet turtles. "Once a pet, always a pet".
If surrendering, we take in all species of pet turtles...except one...
The Slider
(Species: Trachemys and all subspecies)
Includes:
-Red Eared Sliders
-Yellow Bellied Sliders
-Cumberland Sliders
-Rio Grande Sliders
......etc.
The slider (Trachemys ssp.) is the most common turtle in the pet trade. Many people purchase them on impulse or find them as hatchlings and take them home to be pets, not realizing how big they'll get or how much maintenance they'll need.
Here at CMTR, we field anywhere from 4 to 6 calls each week from people who have one and have now found themselves unable to care for it. As much as we would truly love to take them all in, we simply don't have the space. If we took in every single unwanted slider, we'd have no room for the hundreds of other turtles that are hurt or sick and need our help. So, sadly, we have to say no to sliders.
So what should you do if you need to find a home for a slider? We're unaware of any rescues, zoos, or in the entire U.S. that will take them. (If you know of one that I don't, PLEASE correct us and let us know.) We've gotten calls from as far away as Michigan, from folks looking for someone - anyone - to take their slider. A better plan is to try to find a private adopter. You can list your turtle for adoption (NO money changing hands, must be completely free) on Facebook, Craigslist, or Petfinder. (We're happy to help with that...see above.) Or you could look into different ways of making your current situation better so that you can keep your turtle. (We're happy to help with that too.)
In the end, the best option is to never get a pet unless you're willing to go the long haul with it. Turtles can live 30-100 years in captivity depending on species, and "once a pet, always a pet". So before you bring another life into your home, please make sure you can adequately care for it, for its entire life. If you can't make that commitment, then a turtle may not be the right pet for you.
Here at CMTR, we field anywhere from 4 to 6 calls each week from people who have one and have now found themselves unable to care for it. As much as we would truly love to take them all in, we simply don't have the space. If we took in every single unwanted slider, we'd have no room for the hundreds of other turtles that are hurt or sick and need our help. So, sadly, we have to say no to sliders.
So what should you do if you need to find a home for a slider? We're unaware of any rescues, zoos, or in the entire U.S. that will take them. (If you know of one that I don't, PLEASE correct us and let us know.) We've gotten calls from as far away as Michigan, from folks looking for someone - anyone - to take their slider. A better plan is to try to find a private adopter. You can list your turtle for adoption (NO money changing hands, must be completely free) on Facebook, Craigslist, or Petfinder. (We're happy to help with that...see above.) Or you could look into different ways of making your current situation better so that you can keep your turtle. (We're happy to help with that too.)
In the end, the best option is to never get a pet unless you're willing to go the long haul with it. Turtles can live 30-100 years in captivity depending on species, and "once a pet, always a pet". So before you bring another life into your home, please make sure you can adequately care for it, for its entire life. If you can't make that commitment, then a turtle may not be the right pet for you.