Criteria for a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary
The criteria for a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary are based on the GFAS Standards of Excellence. The GFAS Standards of Excellence cover:
- Governing Authority
- Finance
- Guidelines (regarding acquisition, handling, commercial activities and more)
- Education and Outreach
- Staffing
- Physical Facilities
- Security/Safety
- Veterinary Medical Program
- General Animal Care
- Animal Care by Specific Animal Group
As noted elsewhere on this site, these standards were developed and reviewed by several working groups comprised of sanctuary managers, animal protection advocates, regulatory agency professionals, animal control officers, and veterinarians, utilizing existing standards from outstanding sanctuaries as a starting framework and refined/expanded upon based on knowledge and expertise of contributors. It is a working, dynamic document and will be continually reevaluated and revised to ensure the best possible standards of care.
The GFAS Standards of Excellence are being posted, as GFAS incorporates the suggestions of sanctuary operators as they move through the application process and provide feedback. Revisions, incorporating further refinements, will be done on a periodic basis. We appreciate your input and assistance!
For the accreditation criteria, the standards are converted into guidelines aimed at achieving a particular goal. Sanctuaries must then self-score against the goal. The self-scores are confirmed via a confirmation site visit, interviews and required documentation.
If you operate a sanctuary and wish to apply, please check out the process and
contact 
.
Patty will help you determine if your organization should apply to become a GFAS Verified Sanctuary or a GFAS
Accredited Sanctuary. Then you can begin downloading and completing the correct applications. (Note: At this time,
we are not Verifying or Accrediting sanctuaries that are exclusively devoted to domestic dogs or domestic cats.)
If you are a potential donor to a sanctuary, please feel free to download any of the required applications to see the criteria to which sanctuaries are held in order to become GFAS Accredited. Note that statements not requiring documentation for the application are confirmed during the site visit.
Note: Inclusion as a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary is based on conditions and circumstances during the time the evaluation takes place. Sanctuaries are re-evaluated every three years and self-reporting occurs annually between evaluations. If you have reason to believe that a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary is in violation of the GFAS Standards, please fill out the online Concerns about GFAS Accredited Sanctuaries form.
DOWNLOADS
To become a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary, you must complete 1) the first two forms below; 2) the applications for each of the areas to be evaluated; and 3) the applicable Animal Care applications. A site visit will also be made. Given a successful outcome, you are then a GFAS Accredited Sanctuary, with annual updates due. For more details, read about the complete process.Step One
Step Two: Applications for Operational Areas to be Evaluated
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Governing Authority Application – 7 questions plus summary, 11 attachments
Finance Application – 5 questions plus summary, 8 attachments
Guidelines Application - 11 questions plus summary, no required attachments
Education and Outreach - 3 questions plus summary, no required attachments
Staffing – 8 questions plus summary, no required attachments
Physical Facilities – 7 questions plus summary, no required attachments
Security/Safety – 8 questions plus summary, 2 attachments
Veterinary Medical Program – 11 questions, plus summary, no required attachments
Step Three: Applications for Animal Care by Specific Animal Group
Please request from GFAS when you are ready! Just email
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Equine Initial Application Part A: General Information
Equine Initial Application Part B: Sanctuary Residents
Equine Application Part C: Operations and Animal Care
List of Necessary Documents