Turtles dumped amid surge of unwanted exotic pets

Friday 12 April 2019

Two musk turtles were dumped at Guernsey’s animal shelter this week during what’s become a surge of owners trying to jettison their exotic pets.

The GSPCA has had to create a new department to house 50 lizards, snakes and musk turtles, while using more space to store the live food that they eat.

Five years ago all the shelter needed was a single tank for the occasional snake which turned up, but Musk turtles in particular are increasingly being brought in or found as strays. 

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said: "Last month we had a stray musk turtle found near the Ville Au Roi and that takes the numbers of musk turtles to 12 now at the GSPCA. We have seen a real rise in these pets being given up and found as strays, which is a real worry."

But they are not normally found abandoned at the GSPCA’s door, which is what happened last Sunday.

Pictured: Steve Byrne of the GSPCA. 

The animal shelter workers were shocked when two turtles were discovered abandoned outside a subsidiary door in a plastic bowl, where they could have escaped or been attacked by gulls.  It was the first time any animal has been anonymously dumped there in more than 10 years.

Mr Byrne said the trend of owning an exotic reptile had taken off five or six years ago. But all too often owners were unprepared for the rigor and expense of looking after animals like turtles and lizards. 

The shelter in St Andrews now houses 20 Moroccan Eyed lizards, around 10 Bearded Dragons, 12 Musk Turtles and four Corn Snakes. 

"Five years ago we had one or two, or three reptiles at the most," said Mr Byrne. "It’s a real change for us. Since then there’s been a gradual increase in the numbers being found as strays and phone calls from people who don’t want them any more, and even as we saw last week, being dumped here."

He attributed the surge to films such as Mutant Ninja Turtles, the novelty of exotic species and the sudden availability of the animals to buy on Guernsey. 

"A few years ago we had quite a lot of pet shops up and selling them. Thankfully there’s been a reduction of pet shops in recent years. People buy them as a novelty item but don’t realise that these are not easy pets to care for. They require tanks, heating, cleaning – especially in the case of Musk Turtles – and live feed. They are not necessarily animals that you can easily hand over to your neighbour when you go on holiday."

Anyone interested in rehoming a reptile can get in touch with the GSPCA but they are advised to do their research first, said Mr Byrne. 

He stressed the GSPCA is always there to help people with their animals. "Every day the GSPCA helps animals in need and for those owners that need to part with their pets no matter the circumstances we are here to assist them," he said. 

The GSPCA shelter is manned 24 hours per day and on a Sunday the reception area is open between 11:00 and 16:00. You can call their 24 emergency helpline on 257261.

Photo above shows the two Musk Turtles at the GSPCA. Volunteers have named Melanie and Monica