1. You must fill out an Adoption Application for screening.

2. There are no adoption fees charged. The adopter must pay shipping unless a specific arrangement is made where the person giving up the animal pays. This is always the case with red-eared sliders and potentially, some hard-to-place large land tortoises.

3. You may advertise for sale your captive bred turtles and tortoises on the list as long as a prepaid donation is made to the representing organization of your choice. We suggest the size of the donation to be 10% of the asking price. All advertisements for sales must go through one of the coordinators before posting. Failure to follow this rule may result in the termination of your membership. You are entitled to view the public record information of the person purchasing your hatchling.

4. No commercial dealing on the list. If you haven't bred or had in your possession the animal at least two years, it is considered a commercial transaction. If you are confused please ask.

5. Known commercial dealers are not permitted to adopt animals though Turtle Homes.

6. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Please feel free to ask any questions on any subject pertaining to turtles and tortoises on the email community.

7. All transactions though Turtle Homes must be legal. Dealing in endangered animals without the proper paperwork is strictly forbidden. It is your obligation to know the laws in your state. Turtle Homes bears no responsibility for inadvertent illegalities. Turtle Homes is not responsible for false information given on applications. Applicants will be barred from adopting if their applications are found to contain false information.

8. When individuals who adopted turtles or tortoises change their minds within one year of adoption, they should return their animals to Turtle Homes for re-adoption.

9. Turtle Homes shall not be held legally liable if turtles or tortoises adopted out by them subsequently infect or cause the destruction of other chelonians within the adopter's collection. It is up to the adopting party to exercise proper care in the quarantine and treatment of newly received turtles. Please see the article on preventing diseases by Andy C. Highfield, Tortoise Trust UK