The illegal trade of red ear sliders has gone too far. They are not only illegally selling the turtles as "cute pets," they are now painting them in order to make them "Cute Souvenirs". The abuse of an already illegally sold animal is unjust and needs to be addressed.

Firstly, these red ear sliders are commonly sold at fairs and tourist attractions with small inhumane enclosures. The recommended tank size per turtle is 20 gallons. Unfortunately, they are typically packed in a small tank, put on display, and then sold in less than 1/2 gallon enclosures. The allowing of these animals to be sold for the purpose of education has done little to nothing in stopping the unjust selling and trade of them. These turtles are currently being poisoned and suffocated by acrylic paint in order to make them more sell-able and to turn a profit.

We can all agree that when these turtles are young they are adorable creatures; however just because they are cute does not mean they should be taken advantage of. We need to crack down on the laws that prohibit the sale of these turtles while also making sure that we are educating the public on the proper care of them. These turtles are more than just adorable animals; they are living creatures and deserve the best treatment possible.