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Sanctuary/Pseudo-Sanctuary
There are many places that call themselves
sanctuaries – but not all of them are legitimate. The
Global
Federation of Sanctuaries (GFAS) defines a sanctuary as
a facility that rescues and provides shelter and care for
animals that have been abused, injured, abandoned, or are
otherwise in need. There can be no commercial trade, no invasive
or intrusive research, no unescorted public visitation, or
contact in wild animal sanctuaries, and no removal of wild
animals for exhibition, education, or research. In a best
case scenario, wild animals brought to sanctuaries can one
day be returned to their natural environment — the wild
— to live out their lives in peace, but in reality few
of the animals that reach sanctuaries can ever be released.
Those who operate true sanctuaries understand
that all lives have value and each of us has the obligation,
as the TAOS credo maintains, "to attempt to right the
wrongs that some humans have done to animals." Unfortunately,
"pseudo-sanctuaries," as we shall call these others,
believe otherwise. Instead, by exhibiting, breeding, selling,
and mistreating the animals under their care, these operators
exacerbate the already horrific plague of animal abuse in
this country and around the world.
Sanctuaries operate by certain essential guidelines
that pseudo-sanctuaries do not follow. These include:
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The animals are not allowed
to breed. Life in a sanctuary is far better than what
the animals had before they arrived there, but no animal
should be deliberately brought into the world (this
practice is known as captive breeding) to live in other
than natural conditions for creatures of his or her
kind. That would be a disservice to them and would undercut
the message of respect for the value of all life that
we wish to promote. (Exceptions may be made when an
animal's species is on the verge of extinction and a
scientifically-based breeding and reintroduction plan
is in place.) |
| • |
Use of the animals in
commercial activities is prohibited. Animals will not
be bought (except in extraordinary circumstances), sold,
traded, or hired out for entertainment or other such
purposes not consistent with their natural ways. Body
parts are not sold. Public access to the animals is
restricted and only occurs under conditions of nonintrusiveness
and respect for their privacy. |
| • |
Sanctuaries accept lifetime responsibility
for their resident animals. This may include rehabilitation
and release in an appropriate habitat or transfer to
another legitimate sanctuary that is better suited to
their needs. Wild animals may not be adopted, but companion
animals and animals who are typically farmed may be
if standards of care are high and prohibitions on breeding
and commercial activity are complied with. |
| • |
Responsible sanctuaries recognize
that the welfare of animals is always primary and that
respectful collaboration with others on behalf of that
welfare is obligatory. This not only best serves the
animals but further demonstrates the fundamental value
of respect for all life that is at the foundation of
sanctuary existence. |
| • |
Member sanctuaries maintain all required
licenses and permits in good standing as well as their
federal 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status. |
If you are considering donating to a local
animal sanctuary, consider how it operates against the guidelines
stated above. Do those who run it allow the animals to breed?
Are they open for tours to the general public? Do they take
the animals out to schools and civic clubs as living displays
or so-called "ambassador" animals? Do they hoard
native wildlife rather than making every effort to return
them to the wild? If so, refrain from making that contribution.
These are surefire signs that you are dealing with a pseudo-sanctuary.
If you truly care about animals, that money would be best
spent in other ways.
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