Many turtles suffer due to inadequate enviroments or diet from inexperienced owners. These turtles can arrive vitamin deficient or with a variety of shell conditions and stress.

Turtles show no signs of illness untill extremely unwell. Often rescue turtles require months and even years of rehabilitation to recover from their ordeal.

Donna receives little financial help to pay for the upkeep or veterinary bills of the turtles. At times there are over 90 turtles in her care.