From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2003:

Underfunded herp rescue

We noted that in the list of animal organizations’ income and
expenses in your December 2002 edition, there was not one reptile or
turtle group among them. No reptile sanctuaries make enough money to
even have to file IRS Form 990. This is a sad commentary on the
survival of the oldest living creatures in the world. Turtles, at
200 million years old, have outlived the dinosaurs. Yet wild turtles
may be lucky to see 2012. In the past 50 years, the cruel pet trade,
collectors, hunters and others have tremendously reduced the numbers
of some of God’s gentlest creatures.
We feel as if wealthy donors, including grant-giving
entities like the foundation arms of the National Wildlife Federation
and the Nature Conservancy and pet chain charities, have
deliberately snubbed reptile rescue organizations like American
Tortoise Rescue, perhaps in part because we represent coldblooded
animals without fur.
We have pumped thousands of dollars of our own money into the
rescue since 1990 and are determined to keep it going. But we would
also welcome donations from the big groups you listed, especially the
ones that have had the nerve to ask us to take abandoned turtles and
tortoises, yet have neglected to assist us with any financial
support.

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