29 new A/V groups
32 renewals
62 site visits conducted to sanctuary facilities
Our 2019 Supporters
Thank you to all of our supporters who make our work possible:
Acton Family Giving
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Anti-Vivisection Society
Anonymous Giving
Arcus Foundation
Humane Society of the United States
Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust
Maria Norbury Foundation
Park Foundation
The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
The Right Horse Initiative
Tigers in America
Thank you also to our numerous individual donors and the GFAS Board of Directors for 100% board giving.
Grant Opportunities
It’s a new year, and that means new grant opportunities! Some opportunities which open this month, below:
After the Finish Line
2020 Monthly Grants are available to aftercare organizations that care for, rehabilitate, retrain and rehome Off Track Thoroughbreds for a second career or retirement. Guidelines are on the organization’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/afterthefinishline/
Equus Foundation
Priority is given to those organizations that receive the Guardian Seal of Transparency by April 30, 2020. More information can be found on the Foundation’s website: https://www.equusfoundation.org/funding/funding.php
Summerlee Foundation
Grant Guidelines can be found on the Foundation’s website: http://summerlee.org
Thoroughbred Charities of America
Application criteria and grant applications will be available on the organization’s website in January: https://www.tca.org/grant-applicants/
Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign
Provides free equine core vaccines to equine rescues and retirement facilities that rehabilitate, revitalize and, ultimately, re-home America’s unwanted horses. Applications must be submitted by February 1st: https://aaep.org/horse-owners/unwanted-horse-veterinary-relief-campaign?fbclid=IwAR1TjgBzylxeZX4EPV1SVNdYX1gnJN8NBji7xKmjq2VSEnQJY73sxBj4Vvc
3 Day Enrichment Workshop
The SHAPE of Enrichment and Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch present a 3-Day Enrichment Workshop for animal caretakers working with captive species April 16 – 18, 2020. SHAPE instructors will guide participants through a process that will allow them to develop more holistic and goal-oriented enrichment programs for their captive species. You can find all the details about this very exciting workshop here.
Welcome Adam-New GFAS Staff Member
In December 2019, Adam Galler was hired in the position of Program Assistant-Equine. Adam has dedicated his career to animal welfare and conservation. He has years of experience working with animal rescue and sanctuary groups in the U.S., and with racehorses in Australia. Adam also has experience working with certification and compliance systems from his most recent positions prior to GFAS as a Park Ranger, Safety Captain, and Program Coordinator for parks, preserves, and nature centers. GFAS is fortunate to have Adam’s expertise on staff!
Featured Sanctuaries
Kindred Spirits Sanctuary is one of our newer GFAS Accredited farm animal sanctuaries located in Citra, Florida. Nestled in the rolling grassy hills outside of Ocala, KSS provides a beautiful and spacious environment for more than 170 animals. Unique to this facility is a treatment clinic and hospital that specializes in the care of farm animals. Early on, the founders of KSS noted that quality veterinary care in their area was lacking for farm animals so they established low cost veterinary services and education for other sanctuaries. This program is led by veterinarian, Dr. Charlotte with the goal to help create a community where rescued animals are receiving not only the best care possible, but also the people caring for them feel connected and can share information.
For those who wish to enjoy and discover the peace and healing experienced by the animal residents, Kindred Spirits provides an apartment where visitors can stay.
Every animal at Kindred Spirits has a story. Owen, the cow, that was born blind. He arrived at the sanctuary at only four weeks old, but he enjoys his herd mates and the shade of an oak tree. Butterscotch is a goat that uses a custom cart for mobility and is often seem scooting around his enclosure with the other goats.
Education is a central mission for Kindred Spirits. They hope others will agree that these animals are our friends and not our food.
For more information, visit http://www.kssfl.org/
Panhandle Equine Rescue
In 2020, Panhandle Equine Rescue (PER) will be celebrating 15 years of dedicated service to helping equine in Escambia County located along the western edge of northern Florida. Diane Lowery, President of PER, and friends established PER in 2005 to address the many equine neglect cases in her county and the limited services to ensure the welfare of these animals. PER members became authorized by the court of Escambia County under FL. Statute 828.03 to investigate reports of equine in trouble and verify if they found violations of state laws concerning the protection and prevention of any act of cruelty to animals. The rest is history. Hundreds of equines have been helped by this committed team led by Diane. Panhandle Equine Rescue faces many challenges to do the great work that they do including the fact that they are in one of the highest risk areas for hurricanes. Since 1930, 63 hurricanes have been recorded in their county. Disaster/emergency preparedness is a main priority for this equine welfare organization.
Recently, PER took in three horses that were older and had developed COPD. Usually most rescue organizations would assume that these horses would not be adoptable, but a special woman decided to adopt two of the three. One horse remains and PER is committed to finding Sassy (20-year-old mare) a home. PER will always provide a lifetime safety net for the 72 horses that have been placed over the years as long as they are physically and financially able.
For more information about Sassy and Panhandle Equine Rescue, please visit, https://panhandleequinerescue.org/
Tucson Wildlife Center
Congratulations to Tucson Wildlife Center on their move from Verified to Accredited status. Whether it’s a coyote hit by a car, an abandoned juvenile raccoon nurtured by animal care volunteers or non-releasable birds of prey living peacefully in sanctuary, Tucson Wildlife Center expertly cares for them all. An emergency helpline, 24-hour hospital and onsite educational programs make this group a standout in Arizona. Their impressive growth over the years stems from their dedicated vision, community impact and commitment to long term sustainability. A commitment that will long serve native wildlife in the region and the community that dearly values their presence.
Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger established Tucson Wildlife Center in 1998 and never looked back as the need to help injured or orphaned animals increased from year to year. Veterinarians, staff and volunteers now serve over 4,000 wild animals every year. This hardworking team specializes in the treatment and release of javelina, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons and other small mammals, birds of prey and songbirds. Thank you to everyone at Tucson Wildlife Center for your commitment to the preservation of native wildlife in Arizona. For more information, visit www.tucsonwildlife.com
Newly Accredited or Verified Organizations
Freedom Hill Horse Rescue, Maryland
Little Bear Sanctuary, Florida
Southern Redhead Farms Rescue, Florida
Three Year Recertifications
Animals Asia, China
Animals Asia, Vietnam
Dreamchaser PMU Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation, Missouri
Fauna Foundation, Quebec, Canada
Tucson Wildlife Center, Arizona
Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, Cornwall, England