Are You Really Ready to Start
an Animal Sanctuary?
If you are passionate about animals and want to
help alleviate their suffering, you may have thought about starting your own
rescue or sanctuary. Your heart may very well be in the right place, but there
is much to consider before taking on this enormous responsibility.
Get field training before making an investment
The best way to know if operating your own rescue is a good match is by
volunteering at an animal rescue or shelter. If possible, take on as many
different responsibilities as you can. Handle daily operations such as regularly
cleaning up after animals, feeding and caring for them. Take sick and incoming
animals to the veterinarian. Learn to match animals with proper homes. Get
involved in planning fundraisers and writing grants. Answer phones and run
errands. These are tasks you will likely be responsible for if you operate your
own rescue, so it’s ideal to have a solid grasp of what it takes before
investing your time and resources.
Consider being part of a foster network
If you are not up to the gigantic task of running a sanctuary, you may want to
consider starting a foster network with other caring volunteers. Each volunteer
is responsible for taking care of animals in his or her own home, and may also
be instrumental in finding good homes for animals in their care. Although a
foster network also requires an enormous amount of dedication and comes with its
own set of challenges, you benefit by having a network of people to help share
the care, financial responsibility and adopting out of animals.
Ask yourself some tough questions
Do you want to start a rescue for the right reasons?
Many people who start rescues do it as a labor of
love. They see a need within their communities that has to be filled. Yet sadly,
some organizations call themselves “shelters” when in fact they are actually
hoarding animals or running pet shops for the purpose of turning a profit.
Making money is the goal of any savvy
entrepreneur, but this cannot be the main motivation for starting a rescue.
True, running a rescue is similar in many ways to running a profitable and
successful business, and you will need money to fund your rescue. A true
rescuer puts the needs of the animals first.
Can you make a long-term commitment?
For the sake of the animals, running a rescue has
to be something you plan to commit to for years to come, and quite possibly the
rest of your life. If you are not sure this is something you can work at
tirelessly, year after year, consider a different career or business
opportunity.
Are you ready to make lifestyle adjustments?
Do you enjoy time to yourself? How about taking
sporadic vacations or trips to the mall, restaurant or movies? I ask this
because running an animal rescue is an around-the-clock job, one which will
surely change your lifestyle. Rescue operators I’ve spoken with report averaging
five hours of sleep per night.
Do you have or are you willing to acquire
business sense?
Running a rescue is similar to running a
business. If you expect to claim tax-exempt status, you will need to apply to
the federal government as a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization. This can be a
tedious and long process, so it is recommended that you find a lawyer to help
you, preferably one who is familiar with nonprofits.
You will also need a mission statement, board of directors, policies, and a
budget.
And there is more. If you want to attract donors and volunteers, you will need
to learn to gain publicity, and be comfortable doing outreach.
Do you enjoy working with people?
You may want to start a rescue because you love
animals, but you still will have to effectively communicate with people. Working
with volunteers, educating potential adopters, and handling potential conflicts
with neighbors, are aspects of running a rescue.
Do you have support from family and friends?
There will likely be times you are burned out and
want to throw in the towel. Seeing animals suffer, constantly struggling for
funds, watching as people dump their animals in your lap, can all take its toll.
You will need a strong network of people who support what you are doing, and who
can be there to pitch in when needed.
If after doing your research and talking it over
with your support network, you decide to go forward with your dream of starting
an animal rescue or sanctuary, know that your work is vital. The animals are
depending on you.
Where to get guidance
If you know in the depths of your heart and soul
that rescue work is something you want to do, and are not sure where to start,
Best Friends Animal Society offers free guides including How to Start an
Animal Sanctuary and Getting Your Paws on More Money: Overcoming
Fundraising Phobia. As of this writing, they also offer workshops. You can
find this information on their website at
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Another solid source of information is provided
by Global Federation of Animal
Sanctuaries. This group has the support of some of the larger and
well-respected animal welfare organizations, including
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ASPCA), Born Free USA,
The Humane Society of the United States and International
Fund for Animal Welfare.
This article is
copyrighted and is the property of PJ Publications and
Gifts LLC. It may not be reproduced without
permission.
Paula Fitzsimmons
paula@pjpublications.com
PJ Publications & Gifts, LLC
P.O. Box 45468
Madison, WI 53744-5468
608-332-7775
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