Pet Rotation: The Latest in Creative Pet Care

If pets were children, we wouldn't be allowed to adopt.  Let's just say we've gotten kind of creative with pet care.

I'm not sure if any of you remember Dollar and Penny (a.k.a. 50 Cents), our pet turtles.  Following the saga of acquiring and homing the turtles, our attempt at reptile care was fairly uneventful.

...Except for the weekly monthly episodes of changing the water and cleaning the tank, and cleaning the filter several times a week...and feeding, and unclogging the filter, and changing bulbs, and turning on and off lights...  And all the above were much larger tasks than it would seem because of the amount of work it took to convince the boys pet owners that they needed to care for the their  pet reptile.

No it wasn't a big deal at all.  In fact, it was going so well, we decided we could share the joy.

We were in luck.  A neighbor friend wanted the turtle.  Then the friend's mom had the wonderful idea that all the boys in the scout troop should earn their reptile merit badge, something which required the turtle to stay at each boy's house for 30 days.  


It was a proud moment at the most recent Court of Honor when the list of reptile merit badges was read off.  We knew we had contributed in some small way to the success of Troop 915.

It's been over six months since I last saw Penny, and I'd almost forgotten about her.  Then today a mother of one of the boys asked me, "Did the turtle originate at your house?"  


I was tempted to say, "No," but I didn't.  I was quick to add, "But it's ok if it just keeps traveling."


She laughed, then told me about how eager the previous family was to pass the turtle on to her.  Apparently the creative pet care gene is spreading.

Anyone know of another young scout eager to earn a reptile merit badge?  In about 30 days, Penny will be ready to move again.