ASPCA® Grants $10,000 to Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries for Equine Sanctuary Inspections
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February 20, 2009
NEW YORK— The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced its latest grant recipient, Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), which will receive a $10,000 grant to support its Equine Sanctuary Site Inspection program.
“At a time when seemingly dozens of equine rescues and sanctuaries have sprung up over the last 12 months – many on shaky footing, it is comforting to know that an accreditation organization like the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries will be out there vetting equine organizations and helping them put best practices in place,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “It will certainly help us make sound granting decisions as we distribute approximately $500,000 to equine groups in 2009,” added Jacque Schultz, the ASPCA’s Equine Grants Officer. “The grants provided by the ASPCA Equine Fund are a way for us to show these organizations how much we value their tireless efforts. We hope the equine-loving public will continue to support the Fund as well, to enable the ASPCA to continue making these grants.”
GFAS helps sanctuaries help animals by carrying out an accreditation process to verify that animals are getting the care appropriate for their species and that the sanctuaries are run in an ethical, law abiding, fiscally sound manner and if not, to help them strive to attain that goal.
“While the need for horse sanctuaries is great, and we’re encouraged by the expansion of this sector, many are starting from scratch and are seeking the sort of assistance and guidance GFAS can offer. Our goal is to help them develop sound plans and practices to enable a stable future and earn legitimate accreditation,” said Patty Finch, Executive Director of GFAS. “It is especially critical to accredit equine sanctuaries in these tough economic times.”
The ASPCA’s grant, provided by the ASPCA Equine Fund, will cover the cost of 10 GFAS accreditation site visits to equine sanctuaries.
The ASPCA Equine Fund is devoted to promoting humane care and respect for horses, and is an integral part of the ASPCA’s Equine Programs. For more information on the Fund and programs, or to apply for an ASPCA Equine Fund grant, please visit www.aspca.org/equine.
For more information about the ASPCA and how you can be a voice for animals, please visit www.aspca.org.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has more than one million supporters throughout North America. A 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full-service, accredited, animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York’s animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.
About GFAS
The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) was formed in 2007 by nationally and globally recognized leaders in the animal protection field for the sole purpose of strengthening and supporting the work of animal sanctuaries in the United States and abroad. GFAS has created a rigorous accreditation process to identify rescue facilities/sanctuaries that are providing animals the highest standards of care, conducting a thorough evaluation of sanctuary structure and governance, finances, community outreach, education, staffing, physical facilities, advocacy, security/safety, the veterinary medical program and specific animal care standards. GFAS is the first animal sanctuary accrediting organization to take on this task at an international level. GFAS also educates the public on the causes and conditions of displaced animals and solutions, and the compelling need to actively support accredited sanctuaries.