10/16/2026
🐢 A Little Transparency About Dean’s Turtle Farm
I recently had an interaction with someone interested in adopting one of my red-footed tortoises. Unfortunately, when I explained that there was an adoption fee, I was accused of being in this for profit and not having the animals’ best interests at heart. I’ve since been publicly labeled in a fb group he runs as a “flipper” for offering an animal I’ve personally housed, fed, and cared for over the course of several years.
What makes this particularly frustrating is that this individual apparently expected me to give him a tortoise and ship it to him at no cost, simply because he lives in a warmer southern state and believes that automatically makes his home a better environment.
I want to address that because I think there’s a misconception about what it takes to run an operation like mine.
Dean’s Turtle Farm isn’t even three years old. But I’ve been keeping turtles and tortoises since I was a little kid. I’ve had red-footed tortoises for nearly 20 years.
Long before there was a Dean’s Turtle Farm, there was just Dean. A kid who loved turtles, who grew up into an adult who never stopped loving them.
I didn’t get into turtles to make money. I eventually built Dean’s Turtle Farm because of a passion I’ve had practically my entire life.
Dean’s Turtle Farm is not my full-time job. I work a regular job, raise a family, and spend much of my remaining time caring for over 100 turtles and tortoises.
My heating and electrical expenses alone are substantial. That’s before food, veterinary expenses, equipment, enclosure maintenance, and everything else that goes into keeping these animals healthy.
I lose thousands of dollars every year doing this. And I continue doing it because I love these animals.
Many of the animals in my care came from situations where their previous owners could no longer provide for them. I’ve invested considerable time and money giving them appropriate environments, often keeping them for years.
Occasionally, when space becomes limited, I make some available for adoption.
And yes, I charge adoption fees.
Those fees help offset a fraction of what it costs to operate Dean’s Turtle Farm and allow me to continue taking in animals that need somewhere to go.
Taking in an unwanted animal, caring for it for years, and eventually finding it a suitable home is not flipping. It’s responsible rehoming.
I was also criticized for keeping tropical tortoises in Maryland rather than a warmer southern state.
Here’s the thing. I’m not the one who brought tropical species to Maryland. But they’re here now. And when their owners can no longer care for them, I’m one of the people who steps up.
These animals don’t simply disappear because Maryland has cold winters. They still need appropriate homes, proper heating, humidity, nutrition, and lifelong care.
Proper reptile husbandry isn’t determined by your ZIP code. It’s determined by the environment you provide.
Living somewhere with warmer weather doesn’t automatically make someone a better keeper, just as living in Maryland doesn’t make someone an irresponsible one. I would never assume an animal is better off with someone simply because of the state they live in.
My animals have access to appropriately heated environments, lighting, humidity, and specialized care regardless of what the weather is doing outside.
I’m proud of what I’ve built here. I’m proud of the animals I’ve helped, and I’m grateful for everyone who has supported this little sanctuary over the years.
I don’t expect everyone to understand the financial and personal commitment involved. And I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with my adoption fees.
But I do ask that people understand one thing:
Rescue doesn’t mean free. Rehoming doesn’t mean flipping. And charging an adoption fee doesn’t mean someone doesn’t care.
The animals will always come first. ❤️🐢
