One of the most disturbing things I hear on a regular basis at my school goes something like this..."Guess what Mrs. Krupa?" What? "I found a turtle and my parents said I could keep it." Oh really, so what are you feeding it? "Oh, I don't know. I gave it some ants and bugs but it wouldn't eat them. What do turtles eat?" Honey, you really should let it go, it's a wild creature. They don't do well in captivity. A week later, So did you let that turtle go? "No, I still have it. I'm feeding it dead worms." But is it eating them? "No, but my Dad said I can keep it." PLEASE let it go, it's fall and it needs to find a good place to go to sleep for the winter. Another week later... So I hope the turtle is free now? "Nope, it died (said very matter of factly). It wouldn't eat."
This drives me crazy! I talk to all my classes about the importance of leaving wildlife alone. Turtles, snakes, frogs, walking sticks, a praying mantis...no matter what it is just let it go where you found it. I know, I know, even I as a child had painted turtles we kept for a few days but my mother was smart enough to insist we let them go. The one pet she gave in on was a baby alligator that I got to keep for a month. Of course, it refused to eat and died and I felt eternally guilty! Wild animals just do not make good pets. Period.
Worse yet to an animal lover like me is hearing about all the abandoned kittens mewing under houses or the dozens of cats roaming our nearby neighborhood. Get your animals neutered now! Okay, I will keep working away bit by bit on the students at my school but I hope you will do your own part and teach your children to just let those critters go. As for the cats? Rescue them and take them to a shelter. Get your pet neutered! Put tags on it! Register your microchip! Now I'll get off my soapbox for today.
This drives me crazy! I talk to all my classes about the importance of leaving wildlife alone. Turtles, snakes, frogs, walking sticks, a praying mantis...no matter what it is just let it go where you found it. I know, I know, even I as a child had painted turtles we kept for a few days but my mother was smart enough to insist we let them go. The one pet she gave in on was a baby alligator that I got to keep for a month. Of course, it refused to eat and died and I felt eternally guilty! Wild animals just do not make good pets. Period.
Worse yet to an animal lover like me is hearing about all the abandoned kittens mewing under houses or the dozens of cats roaming our nearby neighborhood. Get your animals neutered now! Okay, I will keep working away bit by bit on the students at my school but I hope you will do your own part and teach your children to just let those critters go. As for the cats? Rescue them and take them to a shelter. Get your pet neutered! Put tags on it! Register your microchip! Now I'll get off my soapbox for today.
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