Originally posted by subwayseries
If this turtle is kept as a pet, it's important that it have the proper environment, or it will be miserable, get sick and die. There's plenty of free turtle care info on the net (try About.com for starters). Print out a fact sheet for these folks (at the very least). The turtle deserves it.

Turtles need a specific amount of space, light, and heat. If this is an aquatic turtle (most flat shelled turtles are) like a painted or a slider, they can't eat unless their food is in water. Aquatic turtles need water in their habitat, and also need a place they can dry out, or they'll grow fungus. I could go on, being the turtle daddy that I am.

This turtle certainly does not have a proper environment.
These folks are not cruel people at all, but the guy made it quite
clear to me yesterday that he does not want to keep it. I guess
he doesn't know what to do with it. I thought that providing the
right food would at least keep it from starving. I didn't know
about the fungus issue. It does have a spot on it's shell that
is lighter that the rest of it. Sort of like a powdery like spot.
I guess their having good intentions are really not enough here.
I think I should re-think leaving him/her with them. I wish I knew
the right thing to do for it. The park I was going to take him to
is a city park, but it's over 4,400 acres & has a large lake & many
streams. Should I take it there?