Primates Incorporated is Accredited by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries

January 28, 2020 (Westfield, WI) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Accredited status to Primates Incorporated as of January 22, 2020.

Accreditation signifies that Primates Incorporated meets GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal 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 Primates Incorporated,” said Kristin Leppert, Wildlife Program Director. “This group has put in a lot of work to provide monkeys in need with a true sanctuary home. Their focus on developing physical and financial plans for long-term sustainability means that more monkeys in need of sanctuary will one day be able to reside peacefully at Primates Incorporated with loving companions.” “We are honored to be accredited by GFAS and we look forward to helping more monkeys retire to our sanctuary in an enriching and dignified manner,” said Amy Kerwin, Executive Director of Primates Incorporated. “Thank you to GFAS for setting excellent animal welfare standards for sanctuaries.”

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 Primates Incorporated
Amy Kerwin founded Primates Incorporated in 2004 after working in a laboratory for five years with 97 rhesus monkeys at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although her laboratory did not believe in primate retirement, other laboratories were actively retiring monkeys from throughout the United States. Since she heard of existing sanctuaries rejecting the laboratories due to capacity and funding issues, Kerwin knew the need existed to help them. She focused on developing a sanctuary in Wisconsin so that she could work with other laboratories to retire their monkeys, helping set precedent for local laboratories to do the same thing. Located in Westfield, Wisconsin, the sanctuary currently cares for 5 rhesus macaques retired from research and two monkeys from the pet trade: a 17-yr-old vervet monkey and a 1-yr-old green monkey who are now living peacefully together in the same enclosure. Primates Incorporated is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit primatesinc.com.

Download press release here.