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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
keeprunningupthathill · 23/07/2022 10:16

He's named Sheldon, I'm sure.

ChonkyDonkey · 23/07/2022 10:17

I've just spent 15 mins on snail TikTok 🤪

WishingWell5 · 23/07/2022 10:20

Put a message on your local FB group... there will be someone (possibly my mum!) who will be more than happy to help!

Quartz2208 · 23/07/2022 10:22

at 1.5 he is no where near the end of his lifespan!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 23/07/2022 10:24

circle of life

let the thrush have him

MrsLargeEmbodied · 23/07/2022 10:24

put him on some one's vegetable patch

girlmom21 · 23/07/2022 10:24

Will a neighbour refill his water for you?

longtompot · 23/07/2022 10:24

Can you get a plastic lock n lock box and make some holes around the sides for ventilation? You could set up a safe place for it while you are away. If it feels like it's living conditions aren't suitable, it'll form a small skin over the opening and go to sleep so when you get back you can get the living conditions back to normal and it will come back out

RiverSkater · 23/07/2022 10:25

You know what the French would do right? 😆

Eunorition · 23/07/2022 10:26

A garden snail.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 23/07/2022 10:27

FGS woman, let the poor thing go.

It looks HUGE, and far too big to be in that container.

Put him in some bushes near some soil somewhere. In the trees in a park or something. It's cruel keeping him trapped.

Xfox · 23/07/2022 10:30

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 23/07/2022 10:27

FGS woman, let the poor thing go.

It looks HUGE, and far too big to be in that container.

Put him in some bushes near some soil somewhere. In the trees in a park or something. It's cruel keeping him trapped.

The plant pot is in his tank? You can't actually see how big (or small) his tank is in that photo

Knuddlebär9 · 23/07/2022 10:33

Could you put one of these in his tank, to keep it moist? And as other posters suggested a living plant he could eat?

AIBU to think releasing a pet is cruel?
Usernumber1squillion · 23/07/2022 10:33

Could you get one of those slow release water things people have for plants when they go away put one in a living salad box food and water for 2 weeks

mrsfoof · 23/07/2022 10:33

vodkaredbullgirl · 23/07/2022 09:41

What do you call a homeless snail?

A slug.

In Dutch, the word they use for snail means slug and the word used for slug means 'naked slug'.

Floralnomad · 23/07/2022 10:35

Fence him off a small pen in the garden with chicken wire over it so that the birds can’t get him , then he can live naturally with an element of protection . If he escapes the pen then just accept that he preferred to be free .

RudsyFarmer · 23/07/2022 10:35

His natural lifespan would have probably been about 5 minutes as he obviously isn't at all shy

that's still not a reason to take a snail out of the wild and keep it in a tank. You’ve only got to look at animals pacing back and forth in zoos to see it’s not right. I’m feel the same about people who stuck rabbits and hamsters in cages. Stop doing it. It’s a shit life.

Agapornis · 23/07/2022 10:37

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 09:59

@katkit

🥰 if you're in (East) London, I'm normally a cat sitter (with reviews) but I'd love to look after him for free!

Letsbefriends · 23/07/2022 10:37

I started off laughing at your post, but now I feel attached to the snail.

You need to take him with you.

HeArInGhandsgirl11 · 23/07/2022 10:38

ReneBumsWombats · 23/07/2022 09:39

I don't see why you can't take him with you. If he tried to trash the hotel room, you'd be back before he'd even moved three inches towards the minibar.

Ahahahah

Jenbarron · 23/07/2022 10:39

Its a snail ffs. Lighten up

RandomMess · 23/07/2022 10:39

Desperate times ask on FB if anyone would look after him? I would if you were local to me and I was left with proper instructions.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 23/07/2022 10:41

Xfox · 23/07/2022 10:30

The plant pot is in his tank? You can't actually see how big (or small) his tank is in that photo

Oh yeah I see now. Apologies! I still stand by what I say though. LET THE POOR THING GO. Set him freeeeeeeeeeeeee.

FlosCampi · 23/07/2022 10:43

Snails are hermaphrodites and can reproduce by themselves yes, so either Shelly or Sheldon would do! But can they really come out of their shells to sleep?

SnailTrailtoFreedom · 23/07/2022 10:44

@Floralnomad whose garden should I use?
@RiverSkater none of those jokes allowed here!
@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps his container is at least 4 times the size of the recommended size for a snail. He's fine.
@Usernumber1squillion Im tending towards this idea if the Dc can't find anyone to take him when I kick them out to play this afternoon.

I'm not going to advertise on Facebook that I'm going away for a while!

OP posts: