Horse Harbor Foundation of Poulsbo becomes first GFAS accredited sanctuary on West Coast
Accreditation establishes high standards of credibility and recognition for global sanctuaries
May 4, 2010 (Washington, DC) – Today the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the nation’s premier organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, announced Horse Harbor Foundation, located near Poulsbo, WA became the first West Coast sanctuary accredited by its standards, joining Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue of PA, Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch of TX, Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary of AZ, and Habitat for Horses of TX in attaining equine accreditation. In addition, two other equine facilities have achieved verification, certifying humane care of the equines in true equine sanctuary/rescue. The accreditation attainment signifies the implementation of clear and respected international standards covering not only equine care, but governing authority, finance, guidelines, education and outreach, staffing, physical facilities, security/safety and the veterinary medical program.
“Accreditation is a rigorous process,” says Patty Finch, GFAS Executive Director, “and an achievement of which Horse Harbor Foundation can be very proud. Horse Harbor Foundation is a true equine sanctuary. Horses arriving there are at their final, permanent home. Clearly the horses flourish there, and many of the vibrant equine residents are now in their mid-thirties.”
Horse Harbor Foundation is also known for its strong education program, in which students are taught all aspects of equine care and keep. Prior to a lesson, they give their assigned horse a complete health check, groom and tack the horse themselves, then learn to exercise each equine as appropriate for its age and condition, through increasingly advanced riding lessons. Older students also are responsible for cleaning the equine areas daily, and finding a trained replacement if they are unable to come at their scheduled time to clean. To participate, students become members of Horse Harbor Foundation and those membership fees significantly enable Horse Harbor Foundation to support the life time care of its horses.
“We rescue horses that otherwise cannot be adopted, many from our local animal control agency, and make sure they live out their lives in peace, comfort, dignity and love. Our commitment is that no horse will experience premature euthanasia here by animal control and in the almost 16 years we have been in operation, none have.” states Allen Warren, Executive Director of Horse Harbor Foundation. He is also the 1994 founder of Horse Harbor Foundation, which officially received its 501©3 nonprofit status in 1996.
“Horse Harbor Foundation is a model of how a nonprofit can generate the majority of the operating revenue it needs for long term equine care, while at the same time furthering its philanthropic mission,” said Finch. “Allen Warren generously gives of himself in helping to mentor other equine nonprofits toward greater self sustainability, and with his engaged Board, has created an organization that will always be there for the horses.”
For additional information on Horse Harbor Foundation, visit http://www.horseharbor.org.