Resource Acknowledgement
The following resource was written for The Open Sanctuary Project by guest contributor Jill Tedeschi of Healthy Herd Consulting.

Every second during a resident health emergency matters. Having the correct supplies and tools at your fingertips may be the difference between life and death for the individuals in your care. In this resource, we’ll provide a list of supplies to have on-hand for resident chicken-, turkey-, duck-, goose-, goat-, sheep-, alpaca-, llama-, pig-, horse-, donkey-, and cow-health emergencies.

This list is just a starting point. Consult with your veterinarian for their opinion on the best drugs and supplies to have for your particular residents and receive clear instructions on when and how to use all medications. Often, the benefit of having drugs and supplies on hand is that it allows your veterinarian to talk you through starting a particular treatment if they cannot examine the individual right away or if the situation is so urgent that they want you to administer medication or treatment immediately while they’re en route.

How To Use This Supply List

This healthcare supply list is broken down into ten digestible sections. Each section is broken down further by species grouping or a specific trait. The ten sections are:

1. Organizational Supplies
2. Small Instruments
3. General Supplies, First Aid, & Small Tools
4. Cotton, Gauze, Pads, Bandages, & Wrap Supplies
5. Topical Sprays, Creams, & Ointments
6. Hoof, Foot, & Leg Care
7. Medications & Supplements
8. Needles & Syringes
9. Additional Supplies for Neonates 
10. Additional Considerations for Recumbent & Acutely Non-Ambulatory Residents

Downloadable Version Available!
This checklist is also available for download in an abbreviated, printable format which can be found here!

Financial Considerations

The quantity of supplies you need depends on the size of your resident population and how quickly you go through supplies. Building your emergency first aid kit from scratch is no small financial commitment. Neither is keeping it refreshed and restocked as medications are used or expire. Connect with your vet to determine the appropriate quantities to keep on hand, and be sure to have a schedule in place to check medication expiration dates. 

Building Trust With Your Veterinarian

There is a chance your veterinarian may not be comfortable with leaving prescription medications and medical supplies to have “just in case.” This might be particularly true if this is a vet service you recently started using and there is no precedent or history. Be sure that you have vetted your vet and determined they are the best fit for the residents in your care. Continue to build and maintain a good relationship, established on trust and honest communication. As your relationship grows, you may find that they are more open to leaving medications for you to administer under their guidance. As a general rule, having a competent vet who will guide you during an emergency and provide high-quality care to your residents is better than an absent, less-involved vet who will leave you prescriptions. 

What This List Does Not Include

Please note, this supply list does not cover the myriad of non-healthcare emergencies that may occur with your residents. Other resident emergencies to be prepared for include fire, evacuation, escaped or missing residents, broken gates and fences, and more. 

This list also does not cover laboring individuals. If you rescue a pregnant resident, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about what supplies you should have on hand and work with them to put a plan in place should she need assistance during labor.

Organizational Supplies

All Species

1. Clearly labeled cabinets or totes to hold the supplies- When time is of the essence and your adrenaline is running high, you must quickly find the necessary supplies to help the resident in need. You may need to verbally direct someone less-familiar with your supplies to collect items for you from these labeled totes or cabinets.
2. Designated bucket, tote, or bin to take supplies with you into the field- Having a bucket or tote for the supplies helps keep you organized during the emergency and provides a place to temporarily put trash or used needles, so they are not lost.
3. Method of note-taking- Whether a pad of paper and pen or your phone’s notes app, writing down instructions from your vet or observations ensures the residents receive the correct treatment, and you can update their health records accurately.

Small Instruments

All Species

1. Forceps (tweezers)
2. Penlight and/or headlamp
3. Stethoscope
4. Suture scissors
5. Tissue scissors
6. Bandage scissors- Bandage scissors have a blunted end to the lower blade. Although pricey, Miltex’s 5” fluoride-coated nurse’s scissors are a favorite among sanctuary operators for their ease of use and blade sharpness.
7. Scalpel & holder

All Mammals

1. Thermometer & lubricant for taking rectal temperatures

Horned & Tusked Residents

1. Gigli saw with extra wire & wire cutters

General Supplies, First Aid, & Small Tools

All Species

1. Blow dryer- Handy if a wet resident needs to be dry and warm quickly.
2. Hydrogen peroxide
3. Isopropyl alcohol- Great for quick cold sterilizations, flattening hair or feathers, and emergency cool-downs.
4. Replacement fluids such as 1L bags of lactated rings, plasma lyte, or saline- Your vet may guide you in administering fluids to dehydrated individuals and can recommend which types(s) to have on hand for your residents.
5. Mineral oil- Often used for lavages and enemas.
6. Molasses, applesauce, peanut butter, fruit, or other safe treat to add to oral medications or hold pills and improve their taste
7. Nitrile or latex gloves, non-sterile
8. Nitrile or latex gloves, sterile
9. Oxygen & method of administration- If logistically and financially possible, having oxygen available allows you to respond to a resident in respiratory distress while awaiting further veterinarian instruction or attention.
10. Plastic sealable baggies, quart-sized- These bags are great for collecting fecal samples or any other irregular item during an emergency that you’d like to examine later.
11. Safety goggles
12. Saline solution, 0.9% non-sterile bottle- This saline is frequently called physiological or irrigation saline and may be used in situations where sterility is not required.
13. Saline solution, 0.9% sterile bags or bottles- This saline might be used as subcutaneous or IV fluid administration or make smaller 10 mL sterile syringes.
14. Saline solution, 0.9% sterile 10 mL syringes – These saline syringes may be particularly helpful for flushing sensitive areas that call for sterility, such as the eyes.
15. Sample-collection swabs and sterile containers
16. Spray bottles- Great for decanting other topicals and solutions into. Be sure they are appropriately and clearly labeled, like with NFPA Diamond Labels for OSHA compliance. 
17. Sterile lubricant- Lubricant is listed in Small Instruments for taking rectal temperatures, but your veterinarian may instruct you to use lubricant in other applications for all species, such as for reducing prolapses.
18. Styptic agents- Styptic agents stop bleeding and come in various formulas and applications, including Yunnan Baiyao, styptic sticks, and powders such as Kwik Stop and Wonder Dust.
19. Sugar- Helpful for shrinking tissue when mixed with an appropriate medium and applied under veterinary direction.
20. Surgical, skin-safe glue
21. Identification measures
22. Wound antiseptic solution- Speak with your vet about which antiseptic solutions are appropriate and safe for each species. These solutions might include diluted povidone-iodine or diluted prescription Chlorhexidine 2%.
23. Tongue depressors
24. Ice packs
25. Funnel

All Birds

1. Nebulizer & chamber
2. Tube feeding and/or syringe feeding supplies including critical care, appropriately-sized feeding tubes, syringes, and oil lubricant

All Mammals

1. Coat clippers & extra size 10 blades- This style of hair clippers is not intended for complete coat removal. Instead, they are helpful when removing a small portion of a resident’s coat to gain better access to their skin for treatment.
2. Method of restraint, including appropriately-sized halters, lead ropes, or a soft rope snare
3. Urinalysis pH testing strips & urine collection cups

Goats, Sheep, Alpacas, & Llamas

1. FAMACHA card

Cotton, Gauze, Pads, Bandages, & Wrap Supplies

All Species

1. Abdominal (ABD) pads, sterile- These large, thick, absorbent pads may be helpful on large wounds or where extra padding is needed.
2. Cast padding, 2”
3. Cast padding, 4”
4. Cohesive wrap, 1”
5. Cohesive wrap, 2”
6. Cohesive wrap, 4”
7. Cotton gauze squares, 4×4” non-sterile 
8. Cotton gauze squares, 4×4” sterile
9. Cotton-tip applicators, 6” non-sterile 
10. Cotton-tip applicators, 6” sterile
11. Duct tape
12. Elastikon tape, 1”
13. Elastikon tape, 2”
14. Elastikon tape, 4”
15. Hypafix dressing retention tape 2”
16. Hypafix dressing retention tape 4”
17. Kerlix-style rolled gauze, 2”
18. Kerlix-style rolled gauze, 4”
19. Lightweight, padded splinting material, such as SAM splint
20. Medical tape, 1”
21. Non-adherent (Telfa) pads, sterile- Rather than purchasing a variety of sizes, you may prefer to buy 3×4” pieces and cut them to size while still in their sterile paper wrapper.
22. Poultice- Animalintex brand poultice pads are available in a variety of sizes and shapes.
23. Rolled gauze, 1”
24. Rolled gauze, 2”
25. Rolled gauze, 4”

Chickens And Turkeys

1. Crop bras or supplies to fashion your own crop bra

Topical Sprays, Creams, & Ointments

All Species

1. Antifungal treatments- Check with your veterinarian about which topical (or oral) antifungals are appropriate for each species you care for.
2. Antibacterial & antimicrobial ointments- Aside from over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment and Vetericyn Plus, check in with your vet if prescription-based Silver Sulfadiazine Cream 1% (SSD) would be appropriate to have. Ask if there are any other antibacterial and antimicrobial healing ointments they recommend.
3. Dermatitis treatments- Dermatitis, a general term described as skin irritation, afflicts each species differently. Be sure to connect with your vet about the more common skin ailments for each of the species you care for and which topical ointments or sprays you should keep on hand. 
4. Drawing salve, such as ichthammol- These salves may be helpful to draw out infections, abscesses, or treat other skin disorders.
5. Fly-deterring ointment and spray for around or on wounds- Be sure to check if the fly-deterrent is safe for open wounds or if it can only be applied to unbroken skin. 
6. Ectoparasite treatments, external application- Ask your veterinarian about what appropriate topical sprays, pour-on, or dust you should keep in stock in case of external parasites. 
7. Pain-relieving ointment or gel- Helpful in treating arthritis and acute conditions. Ask your veterinarian which pain-relieving topicals are appropriate for your residents.
8. Skin-protecting ointment, salve, or jelly such as A&D, Vaseline, or petroleum-free alternative
9. Wound spray- There are many applications for aerosol-based dressings such as antiseptic and antifungal Blu-Kote and liquid barrier Alushield. Speak with your vet to understand which wound sprays are appropriate for each resident and in what context.

All Birds

1. Topical treatment to respond to prolapse such as hemorrhoid cream

Hoof, Foot, & Leg Care

All Species

1. Dremel with appropriate attachments- You might find a Dremel or other grinding tool more appropriate for trimming nails or hooves (or beaks) or smoothing out cracks. Ensure you’re properly trained by your vet or farrier and have the proper attachments before you attempt to use it on a resident.
2. Foot soaking materials- This includes Epsom salt and a soaking boot or alternative method.

All Birds

1. Bumblefoot treatment- Create a plan with your vet about how you plan to address bumblefoot with your residents, when to intervene, and how you should treat the lesion.
2. Nail clippers

All Mammals

1. Hoof rot & thrush treatment- Ask your veterinarian which topical treatments they recommend, such as Hoof ‘n’ Heel, Thrush Buster, and prescription antibiotic suspensions and powders.
2. Hoof nippers
3. Hoof shears, 4”
4. Liquid hoof bandage, such as Kopertox or Pritox

Cows, Horses, & Donkeys

1. Hoof knife
2. Hoof pick 
3. Hoof file

Horses And Donkeys

1. Leg wraps
2. Leg padding/ leg cottons/ gamgee cloth
3. Ice boots
4. Disposable diapers

Medications & Supplements

All Species

1. Antibiotics, injectable and/or oral- Ask your veterinarian which broad-spectrum, species-specific antibiotics to keep on hand. 
2. Antihistamines- Speak with your veterinarian about which antihistamines are appropriate for your residents and how and when to administer them.
3. Apple cider vinegar- ACV has a wide range of applications in sanctuary healthcare. Ask your veterinarian when it’s appropriate and how to administer it.
4. Bronchodilator- Bronchodilators help open the airways when a resident is in respiratory distress. Connect with your vet if any would be appropriate to have on hand.
5. Diuretics- Connect with your vet about the benefits of diuretics for treating conditions such as congestive heart failure and if it would be appropriate to keep it on site.
6. Deworming agents & method of administration- Each species has its unique parasitic challenges. Create a deworming plan and supply list with your veterinarian.
7. Electrolytes, species-appropriate
8. Emergency treatment for shock- Shock has many causes and affects each of the species differently. Ask your vet if it’s appropriate to have medication to treat acute shock on hand.
9. Emergency sedation- Your vet might deem it appropriate for you to have a dose of emergency sedation on hand if a resident is in danger of hurting themselves physically or psychologically from overactivity. 
10. Ophthalmic ointments & solutions- Not all ophthalmic ointments and solutions are appropriate for every ocular malady. Ask your veterinarian if you should have prescription triple antibiotic ophthalmic ointment and solution in stock and how to administer each.
11. Pain medication, injectable and/or oral- Connect with your veterinarian about which pain medications are safe to administer and combine with your residents to provide them both acute and chronic relief.
12. Probiotics, species-specific
13. Universal antidote, activated charcoal- Life-saving activated charcoal comes in both suspensions and tablets. Connect with your vet about which would be the most appropriate to keep in stock for your resident population.
14. Vitamin supplementation, oral and/or injectable- Each species is prone to different vitamin deficiencies. Ask your veterinarian which vitamins you should keep on hand for the species you care for. 

All Mammals

1. Epinephrine- Ask your veterinarian if it’s appropriate to have a bottle of emergency epinephrine and if they will train you on when to administer this life-saving drug during anaphylaxis.
2. Gastric protectant & ulcer treatment- Ask your veterinarian about which gastroprotection and treatment may be appropriate for your residents, especially if they are on NSAIDs.
3. Tetanus antitoxin- Ask your veterinarian if you should have tetanus antitoxin on hand in case of suspected tetanus clostridial infection with a resident.
4. Urolithiasis & urinary discomfort treatment- Connect with your vet about how to address urolithiasis or urinary discomfort in your male residents. They might recommend keeping ammonium chloride granules and phenazopyridine hydrochloride (pain reliever specific to the urinary tract) tablets in stock.
5. Steroids, injectable and/or oral- Ask your veterinarian if having injectable or oral steroids to reduce acute inflammation is appropriate for your resident population.

Goats, Sheep, Cows, Alpacas, & Llamas

1. Bloat treatment(s) & method of administration- Talk to your vet about supplies to have on hand so they can talk you through responding to free-gas bloat and frothy bloat if necessary. They might suggest having an appropriately-sized stomach tube, lubricating oil, ToxiBan, and an emergency trocar or cannula, as well as frothy bloat treatments such as Rumen-Eze or Therabloat.
2. Selenium, injectable- Vital to treating white muscle disease and maintaining proper muscle function, ask your vet about keeping a bottle of injectable selenium (Bo-Se or Mu-Se) on site.
3. Thiamine injectable- Ask your veterinarian about keeping injectable thiamine on hand in case of suspected polioencephalomalacia in a resident.

Horses & Donkeys

1. Sea salt, salty snacks, or water consumption aid- Helpful if your vet instructs you to increase water intake in fear of dehydration or colic.
2. Supplies to respond to colic– Talk to your vet about the supplies they recommend you have on hand in case of colic. This may include tubing, magnesium sulfate, and psyllium.

Needles & Syringes

All species

1. Catheter-tip oral syringes, 1 mL
2. Catheter-tip oral syringes, 3 mL
3. Catheter-tip oral syringes, 6 mL
4. Catheter-tip oral syringes, 10 mL
5. Catheter-tip oral syringes, 60 mL
6. Luer-lock or Luer-slip sterile syringes, 1 mL
7. Luer-lock or Luer-slip sterile syringes, 3 mL
8. Luer-lock or Luer-slip sterile syringes, 6 mL
9. Luer-lock or Luer-slip sterile syringes, 10 mL
10. Luer-lock or Luer-slip sterile syringes, 60 mL
11. Needles, 16g x 1”
12. Needles, 18g x 1”
13. Needles, 20g x 1”
14. Needles, 22g x 1”
15. Needles, 23g x ¾“ or 1”
16. Needles, 25g x ¾“ or 1”
17. Needles, winged infusion set 18g x ¾“ or 19g x ¾“- Winged infusion sets provide some flexibility in the syringe’s position while in use. Speak with your veterinarian about when these shorter needles with a flexible hose might be appropriate and how to use them.
18. IV administration line- IV lines can be especially helpful when you are instructed to give large volumes (500 mL or more) of subcutaneous or rectal fluids. 

Luer-Lock vs. Luer-Slip
Luer-lock syringes are designed so that the needle twists and locks onto the end of the syringe, whereas a Luer-slip syringe does not lock onto the needle. Medical professionals prefer one over the other depending on the task at hand, but for subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, you may find that the Luer-lock syringe is your best bet. When using a Luer-slip to administer medication through a small needle, it is easy to create so much pressure that the needle detaches from the syringe, spraying medication all over the place. This shouldn’t happen with a Luer-lock syringe.

Additional Supplies
Talk to your veterinarian about additional supplies that can aid in the administration of injections, particularly for individuals who are difficult to easily or safely restrain. For large mammals, this may include devices such as a pole syringe (which allows you to administer an injection while still keeping distance, and possibly even a physical barrier, between you and the individual) or a “Slap-Shot” (which adds a line of flexible tubing between the needle and injection, allowing for more movement of the individual without risking the needle breaking off the syringe). Make sure staff are trained on when and how to properly use any additional supplies you and your veterinarian decide to keep onsite.

Additional Supplies for Neonates and Young Individuals

All Species

1. Feeding tube and oil lubricant- Never attempt to tube feed any individual, particularly a young or neonatal resident, without training and instruction from your veterinarian.
2. High-density nutritional oral supplement- Your veterinarian might recommend supplementing a neonate with high-density nutrition, like species-specific Nutri-Drench.
3. Blankets and towels
4. Safe heat source

Neonatal & Young Mammals

1. Antidiarrheal agent
2. Feeding supplies such as pans, bottles with appropriate teats, & bottlebrush
3. Bulb syringe for clearing airways
4. Colostrum replacement
5. Milk or milk replacer
6. Naval dip or spray
7. Newborn coats
8. Umbilical clamps

Additional Considerations For Recumbent And Acutely Non-Ambulatory Residents

Resident emergencies where the individual is stuck in a recumbent position or found acutely non-ambulatory are particularly challenging to navigate. Improper handling of recumbent and non-ambulatory residents and misuse of equipment may risk further harm to the individual and, depending on their size, could endanger the human helpers. This section provides a few examples of supplies to keep on hand to help relocate or support the individual. However, be sure to connect with your veterinarian for training and to create a game plan if any size resident, from 3 lbs to 3,000 lbs, needs immediate assistance. 

All Birds And Small Mammals (Less Than ~100 lbs / 45 kg)

1. Towels & blankets
2. Appropriately-sized carriers- The bottom half of a sturdy large carrier may be helpful for non-ambulatory large-breed birds and potbelly pigs.
3. Safe, sturdy material to place next to the individual if they need support to stay sternal, such as straw or hay bales. This may also include a supportive sling, cart, or padded nest for birds.

Mid-Size & Large Mammals

1. Multiple people
2. Towels, blankets, & sheets
3. Safe, sturdy material to place next to the individual if they need support to stay sternal, such as straw or hay bales. This may be a round bale or a 1-ton rectangular bale for cows and horses.
4. Species-specific halters and lead ropes
5. Webbing, sturdy nylon rope, & ratchet straps
6. Rescue glide- Rescue glides are lightweight, plastic backboards you place under large animals in order to help move them to a new location or even load them up a ramp into a trailer to drive to receive medical treatment.
7. Appropriate method of lifting large-sized resident to standing- This may include a sling or hip lift. Some methods may need a tractor, hook, and heavy chains in order to aid the resident.
8. Temporary shade structure- In the event that the individual cannot be moved right away, it’s helpful to have supplies on hand to provide temporary protection from the elements. This may include tarps, shade cloth, and posts.

SOURCES:

Camelid Medicine Cabinet| Pamela G. Walker, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, Camelid Care Veterinary Services 

Llama And Alpaca Car, First Edition | Cebra, Anderson, Tibary, Van Saun, And Johnson (Non-Compassionate Source)

Alpaca Health Care | Island Alpacas (Non-Compassionate Source)

Dealing With A Down Horse | The Horse (Non-Compassionate Source)

Non-Compassionate Source?
If a source includes the (Non-Compassionate Source) tag, it means that we do not endorse that particular source’s views about animals, even if some of their insights are valuable from a care perspective. See a more detailed explanation here.

The term “animal shelter” is laden with meaning for many. For some people, the associations they have may be negative. For example, when some people hear the term “shelter,” they might envision rows upon rows of kennels occupied by very sad animals waiting for homes, or for their lost caregivers to come find them. Some may imagine that animals in shelter environments will receive more limited care than they deserve. Some people may think about the possible deaths of those animals who are not lucky enough to be reunited with their owners, or find a forever home.

While these visions can at times be a sad reality when it comes to animal shelters, like many aspects of the world of animal care and advocacy, it is not always that simple. Just like animal sanctuaries and rescues, animal shelters come in many different shapes and forms. Care standards, placement decisions, and policies differ vastly not just from urban to rural shelters, or from state to state, but even from shelter to shelter within a city, so generalizations about “all shelters” are typically less than accurate.

Shelters can potentially be wonderful allies in animal advocacy work, so just as we recommend that sanctuaries develop relationships with one another based on mutual support and understanding, we encourage sanctuaries and animal shelters to develop similarly mutually helpful relationships. To start this process, it may help to get a better and more nuanced understanding of animal shelters, and to consider ways in which animal advocates can assist shelters in order to provide support to the most animals in need. One way to do this is by setting aside preconceived notions and considering a more general and objective definition of what a shelter is. Consider this definition for example:

The Simplest Definition of an Animal Shelter:

“A publicly supported animal care space with a physical infrastructure in which homeless animals are given care and offered for adoption.”

To add some nuance, an animal shelter can be either a municipal shelter, which generally speaking, is government funded and maintained, or a nonprofit organization that is funded by charitable contributions. How shelters are structured and can (or cannot) receive donations can vary depending on local laws. Both types of shelters are ultimately answerable to the public in different ways. In the case of a municipal shelter, they are generally funded directly by tax dollars. In the case of a nonprofit organization, because they are tax-exempt, they hold a public trust. Both kinds of shelters are also answerable to the government in different ways. Municipal shelters are directly answerable to the entity of government through which they are created, which can be a city, county, or state or a combination of the three. Nonprofit organizations are ultimately answerable to their state administrative body that oversees nonprofits, as well as to the IRS. Both are also likely to be administered by the department of agriculture in the state in which they are located.

Municipal And Nonprofit Shelters

When it comes to nonprofit shelters that are funded by charitable donations, these kinds of organizations often have (or should have!) limits on their capacity with respect to intake. They may also specialize in one or a limited amount of particular species. In some cases, this may enable them to provide a higher standard of care than what might be available at a municipal shelter, but they will also often have significantly more limitations when it comes to intake, and much less space to work with. Such shelters often also enjoy a much more positive public perception than that of a municipal shelter.

However, it’s important to remember that this perception does not necessarily mean that nonprofit shelters are more effective than municipal shelters when it comes to saving lives. Consider that, in the case of a municipal shelter, many of these organizations operate under mandates that require them to take every animal who comes through their doors, whether surrendered, found as stray, seized as part of law enforcement activities, or even wildlife in need. Imagine how overwhelming that job must be!

Showing Empathy And Compassion For All Animal Caregivers
Remember that, for those who spend much of their time as volunteers or as their full time job, giving direct care to animals in need can impose a significant physical and emotional toll. Both sanctuary and shelter caregivers can be susceptible to this and suffer from compassion fatigue and burnout. Gestures of kindness, understanding, empathy, and support towards caregivers (regardless of their context) who strive so hard to do their best for the animals in their care, often in the face of difficult circumstances, are meaningful to anyone who lives this experience.

The Many Responsibilities Of Animal Shelters

Consider also that on top of the incredible amount of work associated with the intake, assessment and triage of animals that a municipal shelter must do if they operate under a mandate to accept every animal brought to them, they may also often find themselves:

• Maintaining a field staff who can respond to calls from the public regarding animals in need and also conduct humane care investigation activities;
• Administering emergency and other medical care to animals who may need it;
• Making efforts to locate stray animals’ caregivers and doing their best to maintain publicly accessible records of intakes in accordance with local law so that caregivers have ample opportunities to find lost animals;
• Caregiving for the animals who are on site;
• Screening homes and adopting out animals who are not reunited with their caregivers;
• Coordinating with rescue groups who can “pull” animals in need of homes or specialized care;
• Working on matters that involve animals and the public health, such as overseeing “holds” on animals who have bitten humans to monitor for diseases like rabies;
• Working with law enforcement to document and provide caregiving to animals involved in law enforcement activities such as seizure in cases involving animal fighting or other forms of abuse;
• Providing animals in the shelter who may have come from abusive or stressful situations with behavioral care;
• And providing the public with education on the humane care for animals, as well as sometimes services such as low cost spay and neuter surgeries as well as vaccinations for animals in need.

How Sanctuaries And Shelters Can Work Together

Every Relationship Is Unique
While we would like to be able to provide effective specific guidance for creating more productive relationships between sanctuaries and shelters in each and every community, there will always be unique challenges, histories, and communication channels between specific organizations, which will add degrees of complexity to managing cordial inter-organizational relationships. Always take the unique situation of your animal advocacy community into account when considering these general principles and ideas below.

It is important to acknowledge that, in addition to all of the above work and more, in many cases, municipal animal shelters serve as the first point of entry to safety for many animals in need. Thus, for those who work on the ground in animal rescue, shelters can be critical allies. The farmed animal rescue and sanctuary community is no exception! For example, as backyard chicken keeping and the keeping of other farmed animal species becomes increasingly popularized, the numbers of such animals who are dumped, or found as strays is increasing. It can be impossible for any rescue group or sanctuary to get them all to safety in time. Fortunately, it is now no longer unusual to see municipal shelters who intake and hold dumped survivors of backyard farming, escapees from slaughterhouses or farmed animal transports, or survivors of activities like cockfighting, and collaborate with local and regional farmed animal advocates to find them safe homes.

Many municipal shelters have also done a great job at providing care for such animals, and many know that they may need assistance in doing better. Some shelters might not know yet that they can do better and that help is out there for them, but when the right set of circumstances arises, they can learn. This is where advocates for these kinds of animals and the farmed animal sanctuary community can help! If you are an advocate or caregiver of farmed animals, or a member of the farmed animal sanctuary community, consider the following ways you can help build stronger relationships with shelters, while helping them help more animals:

• Get to know your local animal shelters. Make contact with their staff and see if volunteer opportunities exist whereby you can assist them in their day-to-day work, and thus get to know their procedures and protocols;
• Communicate with municipal shelters and animal control agencies with regard to reports of stray or dumped animals in need of help. For example, if you succeed in rescuing an animal, let them know so their field staff are not deployed and resource expenditures are not needlessly doubled; 
• Offer assistance by donating appropriate food, treats and enrichment for farmed animal species intakes, as shelters may not always have ideal food options for farmed animals on hand when an animal comes in;
• If you have a special expertise in a particular species, volunteer your services to help train shelter staff in caregiving for that species. Caregiving staff are often very happy to learn more when it comes to handling and caring for species unfamiliar to them, and with more knowledge both they and the animals that they are caring for are safer and happier;
• Monitor intakes at your shelters, and if you see intakes of a species in which you have expertise, or potentially placement, offer your assistance with caregiving and transport to placement;
• Volunteer to help in getting animals in the shelter appropriate vet care;
• And if you cannot take in a shelter animal yourself, offer to help shelter staff when it comes to screening for permanent homes of species in which you have expertise. You may be able to help them go through applications and vet would-be adopters to make sure that the animals in question are going to safe and well qualified homes.

Hypothetical: Effective Collaboration Between A Shelter And A Sanctuary

How can this kind of collaboration work in practice? Consider the following hypothetical example:

Zenith Municipal Animal Shelter (“ZMAS”) is a municipal shelter located in the state of Winnemac, and is administered by and serves the city of Zenith, the largest urban center in the state. Zenith has no laws restricting the keeping of chickens, but the state of Winnemac does have a statute prohibiting cockfighting, making it a felony. Winnemac Bird Sanctuary (“WBS”) is a small urban sanctuary focused on rescuing birds in need in the area.

WBS has experienced some frustration around ZMAS, as they have tried to get them to take action against some backyard chicken keepers in the city with questionable practices that verge on inhumane. However, they have never really managed to forge a great working relationship, being occupied with the care of their own residents, and constantly being engaged in bird rescue calls. In turn, ZMAS is mostly preoccupied with the care of the many cats and dogs who come through their doors, and hasn’t had or made the time to consider chickens.

ZMAS now had a major problem. They had thirty birds on site who needed immediate care, and who had to be kept in their custody as the ongoing investigation against the alleged cockfighter progressed, and they had no idea how to care for them. WBS saw the reports about the bust on the news, and called ZMAS, offering assistance with triage, documentation, and caregiving for the birds.

Deeply relieved, ZMAS accepted the offer of help and WBS immediately coordinated a team of volunteers to go into the shelter, triage and take pictures and create documentation of each and every bird and their condition, give them names, and transport those in need of veterinary care to their avian vet. Having pictures of the birds and names for them made it much easier for shelter staff to identify and relate to them. Shelter staff also started approaching WBS volunteers when they came in to ask for tips on handling the birds. As a result, WBS offered to conduct training sessions to help staff learn the safest way to handle the birds while they were cleaning and feeding them. ZMAS, knowing that WBS had a limited amount of volunteers and time, warmly welcomed the training sessions so their staff could work with the birds more safely and confidently.

By the time that the birds were ultimately surrendered to ZMAS by the alleged cockfighter as a part of the legal proceedings against him, ZMAS’s staff and administration had developed a special fondness for them, and decided that they wanted to make sure that each bird found an appropriate home. However, they didn’t really know much about how to screen potential bird adopters and were very worried that as ex-fighting roosters, the birds might fall into the hands of people who would again subject them to similar abuse. At this point, they felt very comfortable asking WBS for more help.

Having operated an urban bird sanctuary with an adoption program for many years, WBS was very familiar with how to vet potential bird adopters, as well as the standards of care that these ex-fighters deserved, which included safe housing, ongoing veterinary care, as well as sufficient heat and shelter in Winnemac’s harsh winter climate. WBS, also having become very attached to these birds, was more than happy to assist in securing proper placement for them. They even had an adoption contract template that they modified for ZMAS’s use!

Having forged a strong working relationship over the months, ZMAS and WBS committed to work together for as long as it took to secure the ex-fighters appropriate homes. After a month and a half, they finally found good homes for each and every bird. 

Both organizations were extremely gratified over this success and their newfound working relationship. Ultimately, the relationship continued as ZMAS began to take WBS’ cautions with respect to problematic chicken keepers seriously, and WBS committed to help ZMAS whenever they investigated those complaints, and help place birds who were either seized or found as strays.

As the above example illustrates, even when initial relations between animal shelters and sanctuaries are challenging, when you discard negative preconceptions of what animal shelters can be, you may be gratified to see the collaborative possibilities that exist when it comes to farmed animal advocacy and animal shelters. As the point of entry for many animals in need of care and homes, shelters play a critical role in direct care and advocacy. Recognizing them for their never-ending efforts and work, and offering to assist them can play a significant role in the lives of animals who have, through no fault of their own, found themselves in shelters. It can also make a huge difference in the lives of shelter workers who do tireless and thankless work on behalf of animals every day! Positive and mutually supportive collaboration between organizations will always lead to better outcomes for both caregivers and animals.