Urgent Care :: Negligent roommate

[Orugos]

This is an unusual post for you guys I'm sure, as it's part about turtle health, but a large part of it is ... political?

Alright, so, I have a roommate, and I'm tired of trying to ignore his sad turtles. Let me start by saying that I know absolutely nothing about turtles, and as these aren't my pets and I'm a broke college student, it's very very difficult for me to justify spending more money than I already have on them.

They're three red eared sliders. My roommate hasn't taken care of them once outside of me intimidating him with serious threats for AT LEAST 7 months, but really much much longer than that as at that time, when I moved in here, their ~40-45 gal tank was evaporated to about 1 inch in depth. I know that it evaporated because he let it get to that state a second time while I was here.

The real reason that he's so negligent is because he's lazy, and doesn't want to take the time to feed them and clean their tank. But on top of that, within the past couple months, he moved out of this house, in a way, but still pays rent and keeps his belongings here like storage. He doesn't have a phone, so the only way I can get in contact with him is to leave a voicemail or text to his friend and hope that his friend will relay the message. That's how I've only occasionally been able to threaten him into buying more food for the turtles, or to clean the tank one time in the past couple months.

It's just unbearable to watch anymore, and I don't know what to do. The reason I decided to come to you all is because I THINK, as I don't know anything about turtles, that from what my turtle owning friend tells me, by conversations over the phone, they are starting to develop shell rot and some kind of liver problem due to unclean water other horrible living conditions.

I live in Florida, and I know RESes are illegal to sell here, but I don't know if there are any other laws regarding them. Obviously I can't sell them, and I can't give them away (read: steal them). He won't give them to me, because he says he's been 'taking care' of them for three years. It's hard for me to justify spending money on them when they're not mine. I can't take them with me when I move. Are there any options for me to save these poor guys?

For the record, I only live here because my boyfriend rooms here, and he insists. I think his roommate is the scum of the earth for what he does and doesn't do to and for those animals.

[Lilsaint]

i dunno if this will work. But since res is illegal in fl, could u call some wildlife officer and have him arrested for abuse of animal and possesion of res or at least get them to take his turtles away. Your last solution would be to steal them, and surrender them to animal shelter or smth.

[Orugos]

I don't exactly want to do anything that would get them killed, which is why I was reluctant to call any authority figures without knowing exactly what would happen.

[Lilsaint]

i dun think they will kill them. But they might die if they are still living in the tank of ur stupid roomate

[Outlander]

Call the humane society or the ASPCA, that's what they're there for.

[Moose]

i agree and i'm confused due to some ppl's reply, are they illegal to sell AS WELL AS illegal to keep as a pet? I would definetly call the ASPCA or not only that threaten that roomate that you will call the animal authorities if he dsnt A) take better care of them B) just hand them over to you or C) give them to a shelter so that they can be adopted and cared for by someone who wants them

[marisa]

If they're illegal, I'm thinking that the authorities will euthanize them if they're turned over. I'd try to look for people who already have RES and would be willing to take them in. Try to find out exactly what the laws in the state are.

[Orugos]

moose: I've threatened him several times that I will call animal authorities, he doesn't listen or want to give them up.

marisa: I'm also worried that they may be euthanized which is why I've been hesitant.

The reason I haven't contacted the humane society or ASPCA is because, while I'm sure they'll do something about our roommate, I've never heard of any shelter that takes turtles (though I'm sure they exist.) I think my best bet though is to contact an organization that can tell me how the situation will be handled.

[coreyvht]

i would bop him on the head

[Moose]

damn, thats really ridiculous, no offense, but that roomate is in idiot, I wouldve been taken it and cared for it lol but thats just me

[marisa]

Try googling "turtle rescues" for your state.

[coreyvht]

why dont u kick him out put his stuff outside and change the locks and keep the turtles