SESLOC Spotlight highlights local organizations that make the Central Coast the best place to live.
The Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande has rescued an estimated 5,000 turtles, tortoises, and other animals in need of a caring and protected home over the past 30 years. Jeff Dobbs explains how the nonprofit sanctuary supports animals in need while promoting conservation efforts and community education:
Turtle & Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande
Industry: Nonprofit
Serving the Central Coast since: 2011 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but helping animals in need since1992.
How many employees? None, all-volunteer organization.
How many volunteers? 3 board members and more than 20 volunteers.
What’s your mission? The Turtle & Tortoise Rescue is an ecologically-friendly place for animals to thrive and for people to learn. We are rescuing various animals and creating a diversified educational tour by “using” the animals and this program to reach out and help people. Many of our volunteers are high school and college students getting community hours. Others have various challenges” and come with their support staff. We have a goal to branch out into many other areas such as horticulture, permaculture, vermiculture, herpetology, animal sciences, wind, solar, and water filtration, just to name a few. We have a goal to offer this location for local college students as a place for senior projects.
What’s unique about the Turtle & Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande? The TTR is unique in that there are not very many sanctuaries left that rescue various types of animals, conduct adoptions, and allow for private personalized tours. In addition, my wife, Dr. Tammy Dobbs, is a local child Psychologist private practice and conducts some of her sessions in this unique environment. We also have a vision to create an area for concerts and weddings and other events and to build an old western town, accessible walkways, boardwalks, a rare plant and tree farm, etc.
What do you attribute to your success? We are truly blessed with an amazing piece of property and have been given a unique vision to “use” this property to reach out and help people. We are gifted with the ability and motivation to work hard all the time, and we have also been blessed with some really great volunteers who do a fabulous job!
What advice would you give someone interested in supporting your mission? Check out our website and feel free to email us (please check your spam filter if you do not see a response). We accept donations, and are also in need of donations of supplies, like various soils and road base, old fencing, and fresh vegetables.
