About American Sanctuary Association (ASA)
The ASA Headquarters performs administrative tasks only. They
do not house or take in animals.
 ASA
recognizes that there are countless abandoned, abused and neglected
animals in the world today. The ASA exists to assure the humane
and compassionate care for these animals by setting standards for
their care, accrediting sanctuaries that meet these standards,
networking with member sanctuaries, assisting in the rescue and
placement of homeless animals, supporting legislation that protects
animals, educating the public, and reaching out to other segments
of the rescue community.
Nationally, there are hundreds of animal sanctuaries and rehabilitation
centers that assist, rescue, and provide refuge and humane care
for animals. Offering an alternative to euthanasia, or a lifetime
of suffering, all these groups have one thing in common: They are
all struggling each year to accept into their sanctuary thousands
of homeless native and non-native wild animals and domestic animals
with no place to go. Yet there is no effective information center
organized to identify, evaluate, accredit and network these organizations
into a working coalition.
Organized to provide a more efficient means in which to find and
identify quality facilities in which to place homeless, abused
or abandoned animals, facilitate the exchange of information among
animal caregivers, and to create public awareness of this national
tragedy, American Sanctuary Association (ASA) was formed.
The American Sanctuary Association (ASA) is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit
accrediting organization
for nonprofit organizations that provide sanctuary for homeless,
abandoned and abused domestic and wild animals. Similar to the
American Zoological Association, which provides accreditation to
zoos, ASA certifies sanctuaries that provide high quality animal
care and housing.
ASA offers participating organizations the opportunity to be accredited
by members of their own peer group. Accredited members are also
linked to a sanctuary network that allows them to share information
relating to sanctuary operations and the latest in animal care
and housing. This network also assists in finding sanctuary placement
for animals who need help.
This is your opportunity to join a unique group of organizations
dedicated to providing lifetime humane care for animals in need,
and to help create policies for all member organizations of ASA.
Enclosed you will find additional materials that explains more
about our mission. If you believe your animal care and handling
policies meet our guidelines, we invite you to apply for accreditation
now. All application information submitted to ASA, and any resulting
site visit, is always kept confidential.
This is a unique period in the history of the sanctuary movement.
Building on the need to differentiate between true sanctuaries
that do not breed, buy, sell, trade or use animals commercially,
from those that exploit animals, it is important that the public
knows where you stand. Foundations and other grantors often look
to us for certification that you meet these standards.
For those of us who humanely and compassionately care for animals,
ASA promises to strive to be the most comprehensive accrediting
organization in America. Six of our seven member board of directors
are themselves sanctuary directors. Combined, they have over 140
years of sanctuary experience and house nearly 2,000 animals. Now
is the time for you and your organization to join with us. We encourage
you to submit your Sanctuary Accreditation Application now. If
you feel that you need additional information, please contact us
with your questions.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Most sincerely,
Tippi Hedren
President
American Sanctuary Association |
