Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is second equine sanctuary accredited by GFAS

Accreditation establishes high standards of credibility and recognition for global sanctuaries

January 8, 2010 (Glenville, PA) – Today the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the nation's premier recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, announced Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue became the second equine rescue and sanctuary accredited to its standards and, thereby, recognized by GFAS, joining Habitat for Horses of Texas in attaining equine accreditation. The accreditation signifies the official implementation of clear and respected international standards for the public, donors and government agencies to recognize credible sanctuaries that adhere to the true mission of providing safe haven and humane care for abused animals.

"It is a privilege to bring this well-deserved recognition to Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue. This facility represents what sanctuaries and rescues are intended to be, and our accreditation assures donors that this organization deserves their support," said Patty Finch, GFAS Executive Director.

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, dedicated to saving horses bound for slaughter for human consumption, earned its GFAS accreditation after being certified as adhering to the GFAS standards for sanctuary operations, administration and veterinary and equine care. Trained GFAS verifiers made onsite visits to the sanctuary to analyze its operations, the animals' health and the quality of the sanctuary grounds. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue also completed a rigorous written application process, including sending key records, policies and financial statements to GFAS for an analysis by the accreditation committee, which includes two veterinarians.

"While adopting my first horse as an adult, I stumbled onto the shocking truth about horse slaughter and decided to start Angel Acres. To date, we have saved and adopted out more than 250 horses who were slaughter-bound. We are honored to be accredited by GFAS. The accreditation will assist us in promoting our mission and will help in savings the lives of even more horses," said Jo Deibel, Founder of Angel Acres. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue was founded in 2004 and is a 501©3 nonprofit organization chartered by the State of Pennsylvania.

A flagship program of Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is Mattie's Legacy Fund. Funds are used to save horses from slaughter and to assist local horse owners in urgent need of assistance with hay, grain or farrier care. As the fund grows, so will the geographic outreach of this innovative program, which helps private owners for the short term, so that horses are saved from relinquishment or worse.

"We are exceptionally proud to work with Angel Acres Horse Haven. We only expect to see this organization gain in national reputation and outreach, especially through its Mattie's Legacy Fund. The GFAS accreditation will further strengthen its credibility and reputation with the public and donors," said Finch.

For additional information on Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, please visit www.saveahorsenow.org.