Dorset Equine Rescue is the First Equine Rescue Organization in Vermont to be Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries

October 26, 2021 (East Dorset, VT) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations, awarded Accredited status to Dorset Equine Rescue of October 25, 2021.

Accreditation signifies that Dorset Equine Rescue 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. The Accreditation status also provides a clear and trusted means for the public, donors, and grantors to recognize Dorset Equine Rescue as an exceptional organization.

“We are very proud to announce the Accreditation of Dorset Equine Rescue,” said Daryl Tropea, Ph.D., GFAS Program Director-Equine. “This organization is dedicated to providing a safe environment for equines that have encountered many difficulties and are greatly in need of a soft landing.  Going forward, this organization will focus their efforts toward helping horse owners at risk of surrendering their horses by providing short term support such as a new Vermont Hay bank. Dorset Equine Rescue’s solid business plans and strategic vision ensure they will be a leader in the state of Vermont for years to come.”

“The Dorset Equine Rescue is truly honored to be accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries,” said Jen Straub, President of Dorset Equine Rescue. “Since 2012, in our mission to rescue and rehabilitate horses in need we have strived to provide the highest quality of care to our rescue horses and to always conduct The Dorset Equine Rescue at the highest levels of transparency and accountability.”

She continued, “This accreditation is not only an exceptional honor, but also a confirmation to our efforts to date and a milestone that we are proud to reach. As we look to the future, it is my hope that we may one day look back to this milestone and see how far we have come since, in the measure of additional horses rescued and in the expansion of our Vermont Hay Bank which was established this year to provide temporary assistance to horse owners going through hardship.”

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 Dorset Equine Rescue
The Dorset Equine Rescue is an approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Dorset, Vermont. We are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of neglected, abused and slaughter bound horses. Horses come to us from a variety of situations, including many from owner surrenders. Our organization gets contacted regularly by people who wish to surrender their horses to us for many different reasons. In some cases, there has been a loss of job, serious illness, divorce, foreclosure, or death of an owner. Due to lack of funds and space, we are forced to focus on the ones who are in the direst situation.

We are happy when we can help not only the horses in these tough situations, but also the people who have fallen on hard times and have no other option for their horses. By intervening, we prevent the horses from ending up in a worse situation or going to auction which would put them at a high risk of shipping to slaughter. We also receive horses through law enforcement who seize animals due to severe neglect. For more information, please visit http://www.dorsetequinerescue.org/.

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