Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary of Louisa, Virginia is Accredited by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries

January 8, 2019 (Louisa, VA) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Accredited status to Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary as of December 18, 2018.

Accreditation signifies that Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary meets GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed equine care standards which are confirmed by a comprehensive site visit. Accreditation also signifies adherence to standards addressing the sustainability of the organization, ethical principles, finances, staffing, education outreach, security and safety and other operational aspects.

“We are proud to announce the transition from Verified to Accredited status of Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary,” said Valerie Taylor, GFAS Program Director-Equine. “The advancements made toward creating greater organizational sustainability and implementing capacity building initiatives since the time of the group’s original Verification with GFAS are outstanding.  Much work went into the completion of improvements to the sanctuary’s facility; in addition, comprehensive business, governance, and financial practices, such as long-term strategic plans, have been put into place, ensuring the highest standards and practices of responsible sanctuary care for equines-in-need well into the future.”

The GFAS Equine Accreditation Program is made possible by a generous grant from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® and the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust.

About Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the sole purpose of strengthening and supporting the work of animal sanctuaries, rescues, and rehabilitation centers worldwide. The goal of GFAS in working with and assisting these animal care facilities is to ensure they are supported, honored, recognized and rewarded for meeting important criteria in providing care to the animals in residence. GFAS was founded in 2007 by animal protection leaders from a number of different organizations in response to virtually unchecked and often hidden exploitation of animals for human entertainment and financial profit. The GFAS Board of Directors guides the organization’s work in a collaborative manner. While the board includes those in top leadership at The Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and American Anti-Vivisection Society, all board members serve as individuals dedicated to animal sanctuaries. www.sanctuaryfederation.org.

About Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary
Located on 21 acres of grassy pastures, fields, and wooded horse trails in Louisa County, VA, Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary was incorporated as a 501c3 in 2016 to support the right of all equines to live a quality life.  The mission of Serenity Farm is to prevent equine neglect, abuse, and abandonment where we can and rehabilitate and find loving, forever homes for neglected or abused equines; to educate the public on the beauty and value of rescued horses; to give purpose to the lives of neglected or abused equines through interaction with humans, including emotionally or physically challenged individuals; to provide equine interaction to individuals with emotionally or physically challenging needs; to welcome all volunteers including adults and school-age with disabilities; to provide horsemanship instruction for our volunteers; to coordinate with agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia by providing current and future equine owners and other relevant groups with information and resources.  For more information, visit www.serenityfarmequinesanctuary.org  or call 540-842-1756.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

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