ASA is striving to form an alliance of all organizations that can contribute a vital service to thousands of unwanted animals, many of whom are killed unnecessarily because of a lack of communication, cooperation and working in unification to assist these animals. Therefore the ASA will avoid inadvertently alienating those that can participate by allowing case by case evaluations instead of creating unconditional statements in our policies and guidelines. The ASA realizes that there is NO EASY way of separating the organizations that truly exist to help animals, from those that are using animals for personal or commercial gain. The ASA will make an exceptional effort to impartially evaluate individual cases to avoid unfairly denying membership to any organization.
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Policies and Procedures

1. No Breeding.

2. . No use of animals for any commercial activity that is exploitive in nature. Commercial activities are defined as follows:

• Allowing free roaming public access to the animals or the sanctuary.
• Using sanctuary animals for exhibition
• Using sanctuary animals for entertainment.
• Buying, selling, trading or auctioning animals or their body parts.
• Any other activity inconsistent with the humane care and welfare of sanctuary animals.

3. Sanctuaries will obtain and maintain federal non-profit tax exempt status at all times.

4. Sanctuaries will obtain and maintain all permits and licenses required under city, county, state, federal, and international laws and statutes.

5. Sanctuaries will obtain and maintain individual organizational policies that will outline and provide acceptable responsibility for the lifetime care and welfare of animals in their custody, or if the animal can be rehabilitated, until they are released in the wild.

6. Sanctuaries will establish and maintain an emergency plan for animal escapes, fire, flood or other catastrophes.

7. Sanctuaries will provide proper veterinary care for all animals in which they are responsible.

8. Sanctuaries will establish and maintain a humane euthanasia policy for animals who are severely injured, terminally ill or suffering. This program will be under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

9. Accreditation and membership in ASA will be granted by the Board of Directors after approval and acceptance of the sanctuary accreditation application and a site visit from a member of ASA's Board of Directors or other individual authorized by the Board. A nonrefundable application fee of $50.00 must accompany the application form.

10. Upon acceptance, the application fee of $50.00 will be applied to the first annual membership fee of $150.00. The balance of $100.00 will be due and payable to the American Sanctuary Association at the time of acceptance. An annual fee of $150.00 will be required thereafter for membership. Membership fees are nonrefundable.

11. A person with authority to act on behalf of the applicant sanctuary will complete the sanctuary accreditation application in full before any evaluation and acceptance will be considered.

12. All sanctuaries accepted for membership in ASA agree to work cooperatively with other approved sanctuaries. Any problems, disagreements or grievances will be presented to the ASA Board of Directors.

13. All approved sanctuaries agree not to initiate or distribute misinformation or rumors that will cause harm to another sanctuary that is affiliated with ASA.

14. Additions, deletions and changes to policies may be requested by member sanctuaries through the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to add, delete or change these policies by a majority vote.

15. All member organizations agree to help recruit other new member sanctuaries.

 
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American Sanctuary Association • 2308 Chatfield • Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
Phone: (702) 804-8562 • Fax: (702) 804-8561 • ASARescue@aol.com