Please reach us at arizonatortrescue@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
To start, go to our "Rehome" page and fill out the online form. Please include a picture of the tortoise so we can verify the species and size to make sure we have the space for it in the appropriate enclosure.
If your tortoise is in need of rehoming you can surrender your tortoise to us free of charge. We hope you are able and willing to donate to the cause for this service but all tortoises are welcome free of charge.
With our Forever Home option we ask for a $20 monthly donation per tortoise or $200 if paid on a yearly basis in order to sponsor your tortoise. With this option we are able to provide you updates and pictures of your tortoise as often as you'd like. This donation helps alleviate some of our feed, housing, heating, cooling, lease, and Vet costs.
Once you have filled out the rehoming form and we have communicated with you to make sure we are a match for what you're looking for, we will schedule a pick up or drop off day/time. Our drop off is simple, fast, and easy. Simply pull up to the location we discuss in email and there will be a large crate to drop your tortoise off in. Leave the tortoise and be on your way. Once the tortoise is dropped off our Vet will take a fecal sample to check and verify no parasites or other illnesses are present that can be passed on to any other tortoises. Once the Vet check has cleared we will place your tortoise at the rescue location it belongs to and send you an update on how it's settling in.
We unfortunately do not allow public visits. Our rescue locations are leased land at people's private residences. In order to be in good withstanding of those leases and respect their privacy, we are not allowed to have visitors at these locations.
With our Forever Home program you can email us and check in on your tortoise as often as you'd like and we'd be more than happy to provide pictures and updates. We do ask for a $20 monthly donation to sponsor your tortoise for this service or $200 if paid on a yearly basis.
In order to be certified as a 501(c)(3) organization you have to have a certain number of employees, a payroll, a board of advisors, etc. We do not operate that way and everything we do is volunteer based and ran as a community collective. The way we are structured allows the rescue to grow as it is needed to meet the demands of the tortoises which will always be our first priority.
We accept all species of tortoises with the exception of native Arizona Desert tortoises. If you have a Desert Tortoise in need of a new home please contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
We can take in most species of aquatics turtles but are limited to a certain amount of species currently. Hoping to expand in the near future! Contact us to see if we can accommodate your aquatic species.
We offer pick ups in certain situations. The fee for this is $20 unless it's further than 20 miles from our Vets location. Each additional mile will be charged at $1 per mile which will be calculated and discussed prior to pick up. Drop offs are preferred and free.
Adoption fees are $100 regardless of species, sex, etc. This is just to help us recoup some of our costs and insure they go to a good home. Please be prepared for heating, housing, and feed costs associated with keeping tortoises.
Absolutely. We are live animal approved shippers and can ship to you or guide you on how to get your tortoise to us. We accept tortoises and adopt tortoises throughout the US.
Each of our enclosures are spacious and designed for each species specific needs. We have strict tortoise to acre ratios to prevent overcrowding and different sexes are not kept together. Each enclosure has temperature controlled housing which includes both heating and cooling on thermostats. There are shade structures, wallow holes with misting systems for them to cool off in, fresh automatic waterers, and endless amounts of grass and other plants to cater to their specific dietary needs. Tortoises here truly live their best lives.