May 18, 2019
Every year in May, the Valley Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club has their annual show. The show this year was on May 18th and constituted the year's main fundraising and educational event. Since May 18th was also Armed Forces Day, all veterans and all members of the active military received free admission to the show. Additionally, the chapter thanked all first responders for saving two of their tortoise rescue facilities during the Woolsey Fire by extending free admission to them as well.
Members of the Valley Chapter and some members of the Santa Clarita Chapter set up educational displays and brought their turtles and tortoises for public viewing. Click on the links below for some of the pictorial and video highlights.
The show's adoption booth is probably the most visited. Visitors can sign up right there to begin the process of adopting one of the club's rescues. Adoption is free but because there are several steps legally required by the state of California, animals cannot be brought home on the same day as the show.
In addition to the displays sponsored by the club itself, the following organizations also brought animals and/or set up informational booths: AdoptABunnyRabbit.org, American Tortoise Rescue, Friends of California Condors Wild and Free, Ghost Cat Publications and Southwestern Herpetologists Society. Throughout the day, the Tortuga Giftshop sold items donated by members. The raffle took place in the afternoon with prizes donated by local businesses, veterinarians and chapter members. Raffle prizes included studio audience tickets to such shows as The Doctors and Dr. Phil, amusement park tickets to Aquarium of the Pacific and Six Flags, Magic Castle Tickets, free veterinary appointments and much more.