American Tortoise Rescue Partners With Groupon Grassroots for Halloween Fundraiser
Malibu, CA – October 21, 2014 – American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization established in 1990 for the protection of all turtles and tortoises, and Groupon Grassroots, the philanthropic arm of Groupon.com, announced today the launch of a fundraising campaign for the week prior to and including Halloween.
All donations to this campaign will be used by American Tortoise Rescue to provide lifesaving medical services and veterinary care for rescued turtles and tortoises. For every $500 raised, American Tortoise Rescue can fund medical services for one turtle or tortoise through an experienced exotic veterinarian. Whether these animals arrive to the shelter ill, deformed, or injured, the all-volunteer staff does its best to give it a healthy, comfortable life and forever home.
“While many turtles and tortoises that arrive at American Tortoise Rescue are healthy - given up by families who decide they can no longer care for them – many others are deformed or in need of medical attention,” said Susan Tellem, co-founder and nurse with skills that help those in her care. “Spinner, for instance, is a paralyzed female box turtle. Instead of walking in a straight line, she can only turn in a circle, we believe because children swung her by her arms.”
Tellem added that Sushi, on the other hand, lost his feet when his owner didn’t notice he had mites. He now lives with Spinner in supervised care. These two delightful, though impaired turtles, also live with Robert Di Niro who has a constant respiratory infection, and Goofy, a colorful but blind box turtle with a rare sense of humor.
American Tortoise Rescue was founded by husband-and-wife team Tellem and Marshall Thompson, who began advocating for the humane treatment of animals after acquiring a pair of Russian tortoises in 1990. Since then, their organization has rescued more than 3,000 turtles and tortoises of various land and water species, focusing their efforts on abused turtles or those with special needs—and has expanded its scope to the protection of these animals worldwide.
The campaign will be available on the Los Angeles Groupon Grassroots page starting Saturday, October 25that 12:01 am through Friday, October 31st. Using Groupon Grassroots’ collective action model, Groupon subscribers can pledge support in increments of $10 toward care for sick and injured turtles and tortoises.
“At American Tortoise Rescue's facility, approximately 125 animals live in various enclosures that mimic the wild, having freedom to play on the ground or surf in the water. Sick turtles receive medical care from the all-volunteer staff, and stay in "turtle hospital" until they're healthy enough to be transferred outside,” said Thompson. “We also supplement these rescue efforts by providing information and awareness about the care and rehabilitation of tortoises for the public, working to prevent the sale of hatchlings, the importation and live-market slaughter of adult turtles and the destruction of the desert-tortoise habitat,” Thompson added.
Tellem says that these gentle reptiles have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing. Biologists predict that they will be gone in 50 years or less. “We must protect them and guarantee that they will continue to thrive,” she said. “
About American Tortoise Rescue
ATR is a 24 year-old nonprofit founded for the protection of all special of turtle and tortoises. For answers to questions and other information visit American Tortoise Rescue online at tortoise.com or send e-mail to info@tortoise.com; on Twitter @tortoiserescue; “Like” American Tortoise Rescue and World Turtle Day on Facebook.
About Groupon Grassroots
Groupon Grassroots, launched in July 2010 in Chicago, features local campaigns in more than 65 markets nationwide, enabling Groupon followers to do good, have fun, and make a real impact in their communities. Groupon Grassroots uses collective action to gather support for worthwhile causes and produce tangible results for local organizations. To learn more about Groupon Grassroots and how to become a featured organization, visit http://grassroots.groupon.com. To subscribe to Groupon, visit http://www.groupon.com.
Press Contacts:
American Tortoise Rescue
Susan Tellem
310-613-3504
info@tortoise.com
Groupon
Erin Yeager
312.999.3434
Tags:
