Visiting the Tortoise and Turtle Sanctuary of Arroyo Grande and talking to Jeff Dobbs, the amazing caretaker and owner of the sanctuary I saw firsthand how much hard work and dedication it takes Dobb’s to care for and maintain.
However, he isn’t alone. He has many volunteers to support his efforts to keep these animals healthy, happy, and content, and the sanctuary has more than just turtles and tortoises.
The sanctuary has “Turtles, tortoises, goats, emus, alpacas, pheasants, ducks, chickens, parrots, cockatiels, finches, bungees, Australian diamond doves, Japanese quail, various fish” Dobbs said.
The sanctuary keeps other animals safe, like the Japanese quail which can’t live in the wild, and is only bred in captivity. The sanctuary is also home to endangered species of turtles and tortoises like the desert tortoise, which is a species protected under State and Federal Laws.
It is illegal for anyone to take, buy, or sell tortoises from the desert. In California, anyone who has possession of a desert tortoise must have a special permit. Although it’s a challenge to maintain and run, keeping this sanctuary paradise in Arroyo Grande in top shape for the animals is a worthwhile effort.
Dobb’s dedication to saving animals led him to make the sanctuary a registered surrender spot for turtles and tortoises. People can also come to volunteer and adopt a variety of tortoises and turtles, and the sanctuary has many volunteer opportunities.
Ashlynn Chavez (’24) took advantage of the volunteer opportunities.
“I learned mostly how to be aware of my surroundings and being out there,” Chavez said.
The sanctuary also hosts events such as awarding Girl Scouts their gold award. Some high schoolers even take their senior photos at the sanctuary. It’s also a great option for students to get some community service hours done while also having fun. People volunteer because they love the idea of working with animals and doing good.
“We have quite a few different high schools. We got a lot from AG, St. Louis, and a lot of homeschooled kids. Some Cal Poly and, Cuesta, Hancock [students],” Dobbs said. “All kinds of different high schools as well as, Nipomo, UTEC.”
Despite people coming to help out, sometimes it is not enough. It is not for lack of work and determination by the people for these animals but for a lack of sanctuaries.
“[There are] very few tortoise rescues. There are very few left because of the people who started them,” Dobbs said. “[They’re the] people who started all your fast food chains, all of your restaurants- your, hotels after World War II. These people are now in their 90s and 100s. They’ve aged out. unlike franchises that have incentives, animal rescue is a tremendous amount of work.”
At the Turtle and Tortoise Sanctuary of Arroyo Grande, one of the most important things is volunteering which is one of the many things that keep it lively and helps the creatures in the sanctuary safe comfy, and fed.
You can help out by visiting
You can volunteer, donate, or adopt.
