It’s a horrible reality that many of us don’t like to talk about with the general public:
Some facilities that call themselves “sanctuaries” are not sanctuaries. Just recently, many of our friends have had to that take a massive influx of non-releasable wildlife from a “sanctuary” where conditions were even worse than the worst puppy mills and fur farms, all while donors sent money to the facility believing it was being used to rescue animals.
No facility is perfect all the time, and in rehabilitation facilities especially— where animals come to us because something is already very wrong with them— animals sometimes get sick or hurt or pass away or make a mess. But some places have far more serious problems but hide them from the public. We want to help our supporters understand some things to look for when choosing an animal-related nonprofit to support. Here are some things to consider:
- Is the facility licensed?
Here’s the absolute most important thing to look for! You may be shocked by the number of seemingly legitimate nonprofits that operate without licensure. All states require a valid permit to rehabilitate wild animals, and the entire country requires a license to exhibit warm-blooded animals to the public. If the facility does either of those things, check your state and USDA lists or ask for a license number if you have any doubt. Please note that 501c3 status does not mean that a facility holds a valid license as a rehabilitation facility or sanctuary.
- What are the organization’s affiliations?
The very, very best sanctuaries, with the very highest standards, are members of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. GFAS members have to follow specific requirements above and beyond the legal minimums. Although that’s the very highest standard, a non-GFAS sanctuary is not necessarily bad. For Fox Sake and many other reputable facilities are ineligible for GFAS membership due to specific regulations we have to follow, which require our ambassadors to be exhibited off-site.
Other affiliations to look for include the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (professional accreditation for wildlife rehabilitators) National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (a membership-based organization that promotes ethical and medical standards of of care) and some focused affiliations like Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance.
- Does the facility breed animals for profit or entertainment?
Sanctuaries never intentionally breed animals unless it is part of a well-organized program for conservation-related purposes. Still, many self-identified sanctuaries will engage in breeding because baby animals attract a lot of attention. True sanctuaries that do breed animals, as part of a conservation program, will allow mother animals to care for their own young and will not separate them so they can be bottle-fed or played with, especially by the public.
- Does the facility exhibit animals in rehabilitation?
One of the most common questions we get is “can I come and visit?” and the answer is an unequivocal NO! Animals in rehabilitation should receive as little interaction and as little human contact as possible. They should never be brought into public, and the public should never be brought to them. Although doing so is forbidden by federal law, many facilities do this anyway. Steer clear of them!
- Do the animals look happy?
Think about this question carefully, because some animals like opossums and dolphins “look happy” simply because of the shape of their faces. Signs of happy animals include playing (behavior like swimming, chasing, climbing, and engaging with toys, whether natural or artificial) and relaxing. Animals who frequently pace, circle, or seem to never engage in any play behavior are generally stressed, and that’s a bad sign.
- Does the facility use appropriate hygiene protocols?
Good practices for animals in rehabilitation include frequent the use of gloves and frequent hand washing. All animals can catch diseases that can infect humans, and vice versa, and diseases can be spread from animal to animal through a caregiver. Handling also causes stress to the animals and should only be done for medical reasons if the animal is to be released to the wild. If you see a rehabilitator holding animals in rehabilitation without gloves or, worse, kissing and hugging them, be cautious and skeptical.
While all animals poop, pee, and spill their food sometimes— and captive animals love to poop in their water bowls for some bizarre reason— there should still be some general hygiene standards met. A little poop in a picture isn’t a reason to panic, but a deep layer of crusted poop on cage that hasn’t been cleaned in days, definitely is.
- Is there a history of major citations?
Any facility that exhibits warm-blooded animals to the public must hold a USDA license. The good news is that inspection reports are readily available to the public on the USDA website, so you can check a facility before visiting or donating.
Check to see the facility’s inspection history. An occasional low-level citation— one or two over the course of several years— isn’t necessarily a big deal. But if there are multiple low-level citations, or any “direct” or “critical” citations, that’s a whole bouquet of red flags that the sanctuary is not taking proper care of the animals.
Thank you to those who support animals and the nonprofits that serve them! Please keep supporting the good ones and be wary of the bad.
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 