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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think releasing a pet is cruel?

273 replies

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 09:16

We have a pet snail. He came to us on a lettuce leaf when he was so small his shell was translucent and he could fit on the nail of my little finger. He is now nearing the end of his life span. We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks and I haven't yet found someone to have him - our usual pet-sitters are themselves going away at the same time.

One member of the family (YABU) thinks we should release him into the nearby forest, or garden so he has a taste of freedom before he dies by being eaten by something

The other (YANBU) thinks this is cruel. He has been kept inside since he was a baby, his food and water falls from the sky and he sleeps outside of his shell. He wouldn't last a minute in the great outdoors. We could ask the neighbours, even if we don't know the parents all that well, the daughter plays out with and is in a class with my DC; or smuggle him into the hotel with us (travelling by car, not leaving the country). Or ask the hotel. He's in a box, he doesn't need to be taken out of it. But I don't know if snails like travelling?

OP posts:
Scoobydoobydo · 24/07/2022 19:12

If you’re going to set him free it’s probably kinder to squish him with a big stone and end it alll for him.
take him with you please

sunglassesonthetable · 24/07/2022 19:28

seriously? kill him? I'd bet he'd be fine.

linsey2581 · 24/07/2022 19:34

As long as your not going to France take him with you!

Mandyjack · 24/07/2022 19:44

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 09:16

We have a pet snail. He came to us on a lettuce leaf when he was so small his shell was translucent and he could fit on the nail of my little finger. He is now nearing the end of his life span. We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks and I haven't yet found someone to have him - our usual pet-sitters are themselves going away at the same time.

One member of the family (YABU) thinks we should release him into the nearby forest, or garden so he has a taste of freedom before he dies by being eaten by something

The other (YANBU) thinks this is cruel. He has been kept inside since he was a baby, his food and water falls from the sky and he sleeps outside of his shell. He wouldn't last a minute in the great outdoors. We could ask the neighbours, even if we don't know the parents all that well, the daughter plays out with and is in a class with my DC; or smuggle him into the hotel with us (travelling by car, not leaving the country). Or ask the hotel. He's in a box, he doesn't need to be taken out of it. But I don't know if snails like travelling?

Take him with you, can't see a small snail being an issue

JamieNorthlife · 24/07/2022 20:12

I bit stingy.... just pay any excess fees and take him with you.

He can travel cargo like any other pet.

Didicat · 24/07/2022 20:14

My daughter did the caterpillars to butterfly thing we took them on holiday with us - if you take them with you, know you are not the only one! We came home with 2 butterflies

yellowbananasinjuly · 24/07/2022 20:23

I have asked for this thread to go into classics

BeenHereForYonkyDoodles · 24/07/2022 20:33

OP as a lonely child I too had a pet snail. He was lovely and had a proper personality, likes and dislikes. I get it!
A year and a half is a long time to invest in a little creature, please don't abandon him. Ask a kind friend or a neighbour to look after him or take him with you.

franbrad · 24/07/2022 20:48

Where are you? If you were near me I would look after it.
Releasing it would be cruel.

Lulu49 · 24/07/2022 20:52

This made me chuckle. Yes, so long as he’s not an African land snail or the like let him free in the garden. I actually have an African land snail and they are impossible (nearly) to kill. I regularly forget about him but he just seals himself into his shell until I wake him up. His name is Harry Styles. Yes I have a teen daughter! You could leave it for a week without anything and he would be fine.

NotBloodyCovid · 24/07/2022 20:55

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 09:16

We have a pet snail. He came to us on a lettuce leaf when he was so small his shell was translucent and he could fit on the nail of my little finger. He is now nearing the end of his life span. We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks and I haven't yet found someone to have him - our usual pet-sitters are themselves going away at the same time.

One member of the family (YABU) thinks we should release him into the nearby forest, or garden so he has a taste of freedom before he dies by being eaten by something

The other (YANBU) thinks this is cruel. He has been kept inside since he was a baby, his food and water falls from the sky and he sleeps outside of his shell. He wouldn't last a minute in the great outdoors. We could ask the neighbours, even if we don't know the parents all that well, the daughter plays out with and is in a class with my DC; or smuggle him into the hotel with us (travelling by car, not leaving the country). Or ask the hotel. He's in a box, he doesn't need to be taken out of it. But I don't know if snails like travelling?

This HAS to be a joke 🙄🤣

Skodacool · 24/07/2022 20:56

Could you take him with you in a small temporary fish tank. Put damp compost in the base and take a whole lettuce with you to feed him 😃

Mouk · 24/07/2022 21:04

Lovely post.

Please take him with you.

I work with a girl who is passionate about all animals. Loads of snails hang out oustide the back door to the office and she puts up posters on the door warning people not to step on the snails by accident!

Daffi · 24/07/2022 21:11

This is code for your grandfather, isn't it? set him free.

Grrrrdarling · 24/07/2022 21:27

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 09:16

We have a pet snail. He came to us on a lettuce leaf when he was so small his shell was translucent and he could fit on the nail of my little finger. He is now nearing the end of his life span. We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks and I haven't yet found someone to have him - our usual pet-sitters are themselves going away at the same time.

One member of the family (YABU) thinks we should release him into the nearby forest, or garden so he has a taste of freedom before he dies by being eaten by something

The other (YANBU) thinks this is cruel. He has been kept inside since he was a baby, his food and water falls from the sky and he sleeps outside of his shell. He wouldn't last a minute in the great outdoors. We could ask the neighbours, even if we don't know the parents all that well, the daughter plays out with and is in a class with my DC; or smuggle him into the hotel with us (travelling by car, not leaving the country). Or ask the hotel. He's in a box, he doesn't need to be taken out of it. But I don't know if snails like travelling?

Totally take snail on holiday with you.
What other snail has a holiday story.
Maybe get him a special carry case/ pet travel holder for the trip, like we’d buy new clothes for a holiday, & let him enjoy what is left of his time on earth.

SoftSheen · 24/07/2022 21:49

It's a wild animal, better off in the wild where it can have a natural life and a chance to reproduce. Find a patch of nice lush vegetation and release it there (though possibly not a neighbour's treasured garden...).

butterflyflutterby123 · 24/07/2022 21:59

Eh? Pet snails?

And I'm an animal lover here. Never heard of it!

butterflyflutterby123 · 24/07/2022 22:00

Ooh what about a nasty neighbors garden 😈😈

Joking ofc

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 24/07/2022 22:45

BaggaChip · 23/07/2022 11:08

Quick google reveals snails can’t leave their shells…..

Indeed

allourcreatures.com/do-snails-leave-their-shells/

Fascinating creatures

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 24/07/2022 22:53

GirlInterrupted · 23/07/2022 12:05

This thread is fantastic! Agree with pp, great thing to teach kids about all living things that matter.

Anyway, I'm just here to guess the name:
*Michelle as in MiShell (see what I did there?😊)
*Shelby
*Hershel
*Shelisa
*Seychelles

No, no, no it’s BRIAN THE SNAIL

Zatapec · 24/07/2022 23:03

Take him with you, you could always just keep him in the car 😉

FangsForTheMemory · 24/07/2022 23:09

I haven’t read the full thread so don’t know if someone else has answered this but some snails do summer hibernation, it’s called estivation. You see them sleeping at the top of grass stems.

tithonia · 24/07/2022 23:21

Won't it instinctively know how to survive in the wild, in its own native environment? I'd either take it with me or release it into a forest or green park.

JasmineVioletRose · 24/07/2022 23:23

SashaMannDeservedBetter · 23/07/2022 09:28

Sleeps outside of his shell? Sorry but that part intrigued me!

Right?!

lottyh · 25/07/2022 00:10

If you're anywhere near Cheshire my 8 year old daughter would only be too happy to help look after him/her.....she is snail obsessed and has a few in a big bucket at our stables...all with names and she knows which one is which. She smuggled one into bloomin Tescos the other day....

On another note though.....what do they like to eat?? She puts in damp leaves, fruit, cucumber etc but I'd hate to starve them of something they really need.

Hope you find a snail-sitter soon.....I have to admit I wasn't keen on them but they're growing on me now xx

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