January 2025

Looking Forward in 2025: Building on Success Together

As we step into 2025, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries is filled with optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. This year, we’re thrilled to resume several key benefits for our accredited sanctuaries while introducing new resources to support the vital work they do every day. Together, with the unwavering commitment of sanctuaries and rescue centers and the generosity of our supporters, we are forging a path toward even greater achievements in animal welfare.

In 2025, we are bringing back some of our most impactful initiatives for accredited sanctuaries, including:

• Roundtable Discussions: These collaborative sessions provide a platform for sanctuaries to share experiences, discuss challenges, and exchange innovative solutions. By reconnecting in this way, we aim to foster a stronger, more united sanctuary community.
• Educational Webinars: In October, we’ll continue offering a full week of expert-led webinars and workshops tailored to address the evolving needs of sanctuaries. Topics will range from animal care best practices to fundraising strategies and beyond.
• Carole Noon and Outstanding Sanctuary Awards: We’re proud to celebrate excellence in sanctuary operations through these prestigious awards, recognizing the dedication and impact of our accredited members.

This year also brings new benefits to our community. GFAS Accredited and Verified sanctuaries will soon have access to GrantStation, an invaluable resource for finding funding opportunities and developing grant proposals. This partnership underscores our commitment to empowering sanctuaries with the tools they need to thrive.

We are eager to reconnect with you in person during sanctuary site visits and at upcoming conferences. This year, we’re excited to join you at several key events, including The Right Horse Summit, The Animals and Vegan Advocacy Summit, the NAPSA Workshop, and more. These gatherings provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen our collective efforts, share knowledge, and celebrate our shared successes.

None of this would be possible without you—the sanctuaries, partners, and donors who share our vision for a world where animals are respected and protected. Your dedication inspires us daily, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership in this mission. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact!

Here’s to a Bright Future!

Valerie Taylor, Executive Director
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries

Important Update: HPAI/Bird Flu’s Lethal Impact on Captive Animals

 More sad news regarding the spread of the highly pathogenic bird flu (Avian Influenza (HPAI). Twenty big cats recently died from bird flu at a facility in Washington State. Late last summer, 51 big cats died at two Vietnamese zoos.

As of early 2025, the virus has been reported in 108 countries across five continents, causing the deaths of over 300 million birds. The virus continues to cross species barriers, infecting more than 500 bird species and at least 70 mammalian species including bears, big and small wildcats, foxes, seals, otters, and cattle. California has declared a state of emergency as half of the cattle in industrial milk production throughout the state have tested positive for HPAI.

Please take the time to understand the risks to captive animals at your sanctuary and discuss risk mitigation and biosecurity with your sanctuary’s veterinarian and state veterinarian. It’s a good time to develop your relationship with your state veterinarian by seeking their guidance and sharing your biosecurity plan with them. It demonstrates you are paying attention and proactively taking measures to keep your animals safe. Should animals become infected at your sanctuary, having a good relationship with your state veterinarian may make the difference in whether those animals and others are euthanized.

Stay up to date with cases in your state and county through the USDA’s wild bird surveillance dashboard here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/wild-bird-surveillance-dashboard

HPAI is a zoonotic disease, so please update protocols accordingly.

• Food Donations – wildlife sanctuaries should prohibit donated birdcarcasses
• Biosecurity Plan – formalize management practices and principles designed to prevent the introduction and spread of HPAI. See Open Sanctuary’s excellent resource: HPAI Biosecurity Plan And Checklist – The Open Sanctuary Project
• Biosecurity Training – all sanctuary personnel should be trained in zoonotic disease and the preventative measures outlined in your plan
• Increase use of PPE – premises-specific clothing/footwear, footbaths, etc…
• Separate animals – separate birds from other species at your sanctuary if possible
• Restrict/limit people entering enclosures – especially important if they have contact with birds at home or at the sanctuary separate caretakers or schedule bird care last for the day and then shoes and clothes sanitized
• Enclosure Coverings– Where possible consider adding enclosure coverings (tarps etc…) to keep wild bird droppings out
• Intakes -Will your sanctuary continue to accept new birds who may have been exposed to HPAI? Are your normal quarantine measures appropriate to address this risk?
• Visitation/Tours– Visitors to your facility can carry the virus on their shoes, clothes, etc., how will you prevent contact with your residents? Should visitors still have contact with birds/bird enclosures? What PPE might you need? Should tours be temporarily postponed or changed to mitigate risk? Limit vehicles entering premises and consider designated parking for all visitors and/or spray down tires
• Disease Vectors – Wildlife continues to be a predominant vector of HPAI. Are you able to move your bird residents strictly indoors, away from exposure to areas exposed to wildlife or can outdoor bird enclosures be amended to prevent contact with shared areas/bodies of water?
• Consider adding deterrents like fake owls and removing bird feeders, and large accumulations of standing water
• Feed, bedding and manure storage should limit attraction of wild birds, rodents, etc.
• How are fomites (inanimate objects such as shoes, buckets, bowls, etc. which can carry disease particles) handled to avoid carrying the virus in?
• Note: Pigs can be asymptomatic carriers of HPAI

If you have reason to suspect HPAI, it is important to be aware of any reporting requirements in your location. In the United States, you must report it.

Informative links:

Home – The Open Sanctuary Project (type HPAI in search box to see multiple offerings)
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html
https://www.woah.org/en/disease/avian-influenza/

We get asked often what we recommend sanctuaries do with the eggs laid by their residents. Most often, we recommend feeding at least some of those eggs back to the birds to replenish the minerals and nutrients they lose due to excess egg-laying (a result of genetic modification by the industry). One sanctuary has taken this recommendation a step further and created a supplemental mash that’s both enrichment and an immune-boosting treat the chickens receive a few times a week. Founder and Animal Care Director, Lenore Braford, recommends that the immune-boosting herbal mix only needs to be used for birds with a low immune system, whereas the mash is for everyone!  The Refuge was kind enough to share their recipe with us and all of you.

Registration is Open for the ASPCA Right Horse Summit

The ASPCA Right Horse Summit 2025 is just around the corner. Interested in networking with equine welfare leaders, changemakers and ASPCA Right Horse Partners for three days of education and inspiration? Join us on March 18 – 20, 2025 in Fort Worth, TX.

To register, go to: https://events.bizzabo.com/651423/home.

GFAS will be attending the Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit (North America) again this year! We love seeing the sanctuary movement represented at this conference and hope you’ll join us. Make sure to come by our table and say hello!

When: May 15-18
Where: Los Angeles, CA USA
What: Early registration is open! Exhibiting opportunities open at the end of January.

Visit https://www.avasummit.com/northamerica2025 for more information.