A matter of conscience

Nafun · 06-02-10, 03:38 PM

I've got an ethical dilemma.

My sister is a science teacher.

She keeps Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in her classroom during the non summer, and at home during the summer break.

I have been telling her since she got them that these turtles need UVA/UVB light in order to survive. She hasn't listened. She insists that sunlight coming in through the window is sufficient (which we all know is not.)

Today, I found out that their shells have started to come apart.

The answer to this may seem simple and obvious to you, but nothing simple or obvious will work with my sister. She and I are oil and water. I cannot simply buy the lights myself, or I would have done so as soon as she got the turtles. I have offered to take the turtles from her, but she refuses (she hates reptiles.). My sister is bat-guano-fornicating-loco. She overreacts negatively to everything. The surest way to make sure she never gives the turtles appropriate light and heating is to buy her the appropriate lights.

I think I've come up with something that will work. It's going to cause a lot of trouble, but I can't sit by and do nothing anymore.

You cannot keep the turtles she is keeping without a permit in the state of Ohio. She does not have the permit.

I'm going to go to the pet store tonight, buy the appropriate lights, and install them while she's not home and tell her that if she doesn't keep the lights, I'll report her to the department of fish & wildlife. (Trespass isn't an issue, she lives with our mom.)

I'm drawing a line in the sand. I can't sit back and watch four innocent turtles die because my sister refuses to take advice from me.

Wish me luck. I'll need it.

Lankyrob · 06-02-10, 03:42 PM

Nafun - reading your dilemma (before i got to your solution) i was thinking to myself "report her". At the end of the day she can choose her way of living - the animals cannot and need protecting.

I have sisters too - one of which is also oil to my water - i have reported her to the police for DUI before - not nice and the consequences had to be dealt with but sometimes thses things have to be done.

infernalis · 06-02-10, 04:53 PM

You have my best wishes and support.

emseeKAY · 06-02-10, 04:55 PM

same here, would have done the same if i were in your boat!

marvelfreak · 06-02-10, 06:09 PM

Best wishes hope it all goes well.

dragunov.762 · 06-02-10, 06:16 PM

i am pretty sure you can keep red ear sliders in Ohio. I see them at pet stores all the time. if not then it is easy to buy them illegally.

marvelfreak · 06-02-10, 06:27 PM

Back in the 70s they past a law banning the sale of all turtles in pet stores in the U.S. But i see them all the time in pet stores.

Nafun · 06-02-10, 07:00 PM

The law is turtles under 4 inches.
The painted turtles are legal to be kept in ohio, but not without permit.

Anyway, apparently my sister panicked when she saw that there was actual damage to the turtles' shells and installed lights on the aquariums, but she used normal household bulbs... so I just replaced the bulbs with full spectrum uvb, so with luck she won't even notice.

I also dropped off 20 feeder goldfish, they were a big hit. I'll be dropping off feeder fish once a week until my sister gets the hint and accepts that they need a varied diet, not just turtle food.

Feebo · 06-03-10, 02:11 AM

Good luck Nafun, I admire your tenacity. If you`re as single minded and matter of fact as you can be, then follow through IMMEDEATLY with your threat if she takes the lights away, the turtles should be ok shouldn`t they. Good on you! May I suggest downloading a LOAD of information about the tutles, specifically thier need for the correct lighting and heating, and leaving all this information behind when you do the lighting. She may say she hasn`t read it but if nobody is there watching her, I bet she will. I`ve got to say though mate, she shouldn`t be a teacher let alone a science teacher if she`s carrying on like this when there`s innocent animals at stake. She certainly does sound like she`s a pupil short of the full class.....

Nafun · 06-03-10, 02:40 AM

She teaches physical science and biology at a high school level. She was a vet major, but changed majors because she couldn't handle the practical (farmyard) aspect of it. She thought it was all going to be puppies and kittens. A true example of the axiom "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

The root of the whole problem is that we've been polar opposites our whole lives, and if I love something, she hates it. She won't listen to anything I say because she resents the hell out of my eidetic memory and it galls her that I know more about science than she does, when she's the one with the master's degree.

I think I will print out a care sheet for the turtles though. If nothing else it gives me added evidence in the event she refuses to care for them properly. She will have a much harder time claiming ignorance about their needs if she has it in writing.

When I delivered the lights and fish, my mother told me "I don't know why you brought those fish. I asked your sister about fish and she said they won't eat them." It warmed my heart to watch each and every one of the turtles going absolutely mad catching and eating fish to their heart's content.

In any event, I'll be checking on the lights and delivering fish every week.

Paradise · 06-03-10, 07:50 AM

Yeah best of luck to you and those turtles, the poor things...
She will come to understand that it is the right thing to do when she sees the reaction of the shell and the coloring under the correct lighting.

I know nothing about laws in the US but in SA certain turtles can be sold in certain areas if accompanied by a certificate / license. JIP that is correct in South Africa we give the turtle the license. I think it might be because humans are irresponsible and keep losing the things. lol may be its just me but I find it very funny.

Paradise · 06-03-10, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradise

I know nothing about laws in the US but in SA certain turtles can be sold in certain areas if accompanied by a certificate / license. JIP that is correct in South Africa we give the turtle the license. I think it might be because humans are irresponsible and keep losing the things. lol may be its just me but I find it very funny.

Ok I was a little unclear here this is not what the law says but how turtles in this country are marketed. according to the written law you need to apply for a permit for each turtle in your possession. CB turtles are issued a certificate stating they were captive bred. pet store owners are selling the turtles with the certificate from the breeder as a permit to keep the turtle.
I don't know about anyone else but before I take an animal as a pet I research it to make sure I have everything I need to care for it properly and legally.

once again maybe its just me

shaunyboy · 06-03-10, 08:09 AM

nafun,like big rob as i was reading your post,i was thinking bite the bullet and report her.yes your not going to be popular for doing this.but at the end of the day you have to stand up for what you believe in.i must admit im pretty shocked at your sisters attitude especially with what she does for a living.on top of that you were offering to pay for the equiptment.ive only got one sister and its not so much a case of oil and water with us.its more petrol and matches,we never see eye to eye.this does not stop us both doing whats neccessary to keep each other right.i take my hat of to you mate,its an admirable thing your doing.i just hope she accepts the lights and the poor wee turttles get better.
all the best
shaun

Feebo · 06-04-10, 02:30 AM

Yeeeeah report her to the authorities or a hitman or something lol

Nafun · 06-04-10, 05:26 AM

If my carpet doesn't lose it's last bit of retained shed this weekend she's going to the vet. If that happens, I think I'll abduct one of the turtles and take it too. Once the summer is over and the turtles go back to her classroom I won't be able to watch over them. Hopefully a veterinary diagnosis of mbd will open her eyes and she'll realize I actually do know what I'm talking about.