P.O. Box 16 Huntington Beach, CA 92648
What is a Sanctuary?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if a place you're visiting is a true sanctuary. According to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (a highly reputable organization in San Andreas, CA), a wildlife sanctuary is a place of refuge where abused, injured, and/or abandoned captive wildlife can live in peace and dignity for the remainder of their lives. They do not breed or exploit for commercial activities including, but not limited to, the use of animals for entertainment or sport and the sale or trade of animals, their offspring, or animal parts and by-products. A true sanctuary respects the integrity of individual animals, providing safe, healthy, and secure refuge in natural enclosures specifically designed for the unique animals whom they support.
Experts estimate that there are about 1,200 exotic animal facilities which provide the barest minimum of care for thousands of animals with little or no knowledge of animals’ nutritional or behavioral needs. These facilities often breed animals to provide cute babies as an attraction for public display and/or sale, and many depend on public sale of “treats” for the animals as the major source of food. To visit and support a reputable sanctuary near you, click the search link!
Visit the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) to find a sanctuary near you! They are a wonderful resource that gives accreditation to sanctuaries across the globe based on humane guidelines. Click the link to plug in your desired location, and visit a reputable sanctuary!