Animal Sanctuary Sustainability: Defining and Implementing Plans For Resiliency
How can a sanctuary cultivate organizational sustainability?
How can a sanctuary cultivate organizational sustainability?
What are the factors influencing a sanctuary’s capacity?
This is a free printable form to document end of life events at your sanctuary
What is an animal sanctuary, anyway?
Why are surveys are an important tool? How can you most effectively capture the right data for your animal sanctuary?
Una característica que diferencia un santuario de animales es que el se abstiene de criar animales o de permitir que sus habitantes conciban sin querer.
Para el cuidado de los animales en un santuario, es extremadamente importante realizar exámenes de salud regulares a cada residente.
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in starting their own sanctuaries!
Here’s a free printable form to record sheep health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record goat health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Free adoption contract for safer resident adoption protocols!
Here’s a free downloadable template to help craft an animal sanctuary’s accident waiver and release of liability form!
Here’s a free editable checklist that your animal sanctuary can download to keep track of important supplies to ensure proper animal care!
“How To Find Appropriate Veterinary Care”, Translated into Spanish!
“Choosing The Right Site For Your Animal Sanctuary”, Translated into Spanish!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to domesticated ducks!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to sheep!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to pigs!
We have a free printable brochure to help your animal sanctuary or rescue teach interested visitors about sharing their homes with chickens!
You can download a free editable independent contractor agreement template for your animal sanctuary here!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to cows!
Here’s a free printable form to keep track of resident egg laying or implantation at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to chickens!
Here’s a free downloadable brochure that you can print and provide to animal sanctuary visitors who express interest in providing lifelong care to goats!
You can download a free staff code of ethics policy template for your animal sanctuary here!
You can download a free Conflict Of Interest policy template for your animal sanctuary here!
You can download a free gift acceptance policies and procedures template for your animal sanctuary here!
Read about The Open Sanctuary Project’s commitment to increased accessibility here!
You can download a free record retention policy template for your animal sanctuary here!
Questions and answers often asked of us here at The Open Sanctuary Project!
What is a board exactly? What purpose do they serve at animal sanctuaries? And what legal requirements do nonprofit sanctuaries have?
You can download a free editable job description template for your sanctuary’s board members here!
Please read The Open Sanctuary Project’s privacy policy prior to accessing our Website!
Here’s a free printable form to record cavy (guinea pig) health checks at your animal sanctuary!
The Terms of Use for The Open Sanctuary Project
¿Qué define a un santuario de animales? Our “What Defines An Animal Sanctuary” resource translated into Spanish!
Learn all about and order our Care Program Evaluation Checklist here!
Here are free model bylaws to get you started with your sanctuary’s own board bylaws!
Creating a respectful workplace is critical to the longterm success of an animal sanctuary. Learn all about the basics!
A collection of resources on the topic of boards for animal sanctuaries. If you have a nonprofit organization, you need to know about boards!
What is our Volunteer Translator Initiative? How can you get involved?
Here’s a free printable parrot health check form!
Looking for a list of animal sanctuaries around the world?
A short guide on how to trim a rabbit’s nails and common nail care concerns!
Here’s a free printable form to record rabbit health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Learn more about The Center For Compassionate Animal Studies Here!
Here’s a free editable template that your animal sanctuary can easily deploy on your website to handle animal placement and rescue requests from the public!
If your sanctuary is in a region where extreme cold weather conditions can strike, what should you consider to keep your residents and humans on-site safe?
Here’s a free printable form to responsibly document the use of controlled substances at your animal sanctuary!
What policies and procedures should an animal sanctuary implement for when a resident isn’t where they should be?
If you’d like to provide feedback for The Open Sanctuary Project, please use this form!
Identifiers can help staff and volunteers learn to distinguish individual residents at an animal sanctuary. Which systems are appropriate?
Why do sanctuaries refer to animals as individuals? How can sanctuaries best honor the individuality of residents?
Social media can be a highly valuable tool, even for animal sanctuaries!
This resource provides tips for taking and sharing great photos and videos at your animal sanctuary.
Here’s a free editable template to help you get started with creating an adoption application for safer resident adoption protocols!
Here’s a free printable form to responsibly document new animal resident intakes and their health needs at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free cover sheet template for animal sanctuaries and rescues to use for each animal resident’s care binder or digital documentation!
How The CARES Act and other financial measures put into place can be used to help animal sanctuaries in the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Here’s a free printable form to help you keep track of resident population vaccinations!
How can animal sanctuaries utilize digital tools to reach their community during and after the COVID-19 outbreak?
Here’s a free printable form to help you keep track of resident longterm care practices and treatments!
When a resource is tagged with the Veterinary Review Initiative, what’s that about?
The most up-to-date advice we can give regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and what animal sanctuaries should think about implementing.
Here’s a free printable form to document resident adoptions at your sanctuary!
A quick look at an animal sanctuary’s planning document for a successful event!
Signage may seem like a basic topic, but animal sanctuaries can use them on property for a number of valuable purposes!
What should an animal sanctuary think about with regards to hiring new staff members? How might a sanctuary go about the hiring process?
Why is it beneficial to think about who lives with whom at your sanctuary?
What does an Agricultural Extension Service do? How can they help your animal sanctuary?
The Open Sanctuary Project’s Toxic Plant Database is a free, sortable database for determining plants toxic to farmed animals in your region of the world!
Here’s a free printable form to document any incidents at your animal sanctuary between residents or humans!
Here’s a free printable form to document any animal transportation events to or from your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to document veterinary visits and events for the residents at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable checklist to help facilitate safe long distance animal transportation to or from your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free template to get your animal sanctuary started with a Volunteer Policy Handbook Template!
Here’s a free template to get your animal sanctuary started with a volunteer interest form and volunteer agreement documentation!
A selection of resources that would be valuable to animal sanctuaries of all species mixes!
Here’s a free template to get you started with your animal sanctuary’s intern agreement document!
Here’s a free printable form to record horse health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record donkey health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record cow health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record pig health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record llama health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record alpaca health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record turkey health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record duck health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record goose health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to record chicken health checks at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free printable form to responsibly document new animal resident intakes and transfer of guardianship at your animal sanctuary!
A short guide on how to be safe around donkeys and how to recognize the signs that they want to be left alone.
The very basics of what donkeys need!
Here’s a free workbook to help your animal sanctuary’s staff brainstorm and develop actionable contingency plans!
Like many animals, donkeys are happiest with ample safe outdoor space to roam and graze on, as well as an indoor shelter to keep them out of the elements when necessary, though what their living space ends up exactly looking like could vary quite a bit depending on your resources and geography!
A short guide to how horses get along with other species at a farmed animal sanctuary!
A short guide to how donkeys get along with other species at a farmed animal sanctuary!
Everything you wanted to know (and some stuff you probably didn’t) about donkey health checks!
A few tips to keep older donkeys happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
Here’s a free system to facilitate sign-ins and waiver acceptance for all visitors coming to your animal sanctuary!
Here’s what sanctuaries need to think about when hosting a large event.
Here’s a free printable survey to better help understand the visitor experience at your animal sanctuary!
Why do animal sanctuaries nearby sometimes face inter-organizational challenges? What can be done to make these relationships more positive?
What are some ways that your animal sanctuary can effectively raise money while maintaining its values?
There are many ways that an animal sanctuary should never resemble a petting zoo.
Why is it important for animal sanctuaries to perform health checks? What are the benefits beyond individual health?
What does The Open Sanctuary Project mean when we say something is a “Philosophy of Care”-based choice?
Why shouldn’t an animal sanctuary breed residents?
A few things you can do to help us out!
Here’s a free editable template to help craft an effective press release for your animal sanctuary!
A quick exploration into some common staff positions held at animal sanctuaries.
There are many factors to consider when looking for the right site for a future animal sanctuary!
There’s a lot to consider before starting your own farmed animal sanctuary!
How can cross-training protect your sanctuary?
Everyone who works at an animal sanctuary is prone to burnout. How can it be managed?
What should go into an animal sanctuary’s press release? What should stay out of it?
Pigs need sun protection, just like humans! What can an animal sanctuary do to keep pigs safe?
When designing your animal sanctuary’s website, what should you share with online visitors?
A short guide on how to trim an alpaca’s nails and common nail care concerns!
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of alpacas.
An introductory guide for common alpaca health issues, illnesses, and diseases. When in doubt, aways contact an expert or veterinarian for evaluation!
Indoor and outdoor living space recommendations for alpacas
A few tips to keep older alpacas happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
A short guide on how to trim a llama’s nails and common nail care concerns!
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of horses.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of llamas.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of cows.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of goats.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of turkeys.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of geese.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of ducks.
A primer on what an animal sanctuary needs training and protocols in place for when it comes to the compassionate care of chickens.
Transporting residents can be a serious undertaking. What must you consider to do it safely and legally?
Here’s a free printable checklist to help review OSHA compliance for your animal sanctuary!
Compassion fatigue is an inherent risk for everyone working or volunteering at animal sanctuaries. What is it, and how can it be managed?
If you’re operating an animal sanctuary, insurance is a mission-critical tool to keep your organization safe!
If your animal sanctuary is formally incorporated the United States and has one employee, you must be in OSHA compliance.
Many structures and resident living spaces are highly prone to fires. What can an animal sanctuary do to lower the risk of tragedy?
Here’s a free printable checklist to help prevent fires at your animal sanctuary!
What is the ADA? How can sanctuaries be made more accessible?
Here are the elements of an effective tour program for farmed animal sanctuaries.
It’s very likely you’ll have to hire outside help for your animal sanctuary. Are you sure that they’re actually independent contractors?
If you are hiring employees at your animal sanctuary in the United States, you must know how to properly classify them to avoid serious consequences!
Succession planning is a critical need for every animal sanctuary’s leadership. Don’t put it off!
How to keep a goose’s living space clean!
Why it’s important to consider the words you use when you talk about your residents and other animals at your farmed animal sanctuary.
The importance of chosen language at The Open Sanctuary Project
A short guide on how to trim a goose’s toenails!
A short guide on how to be safe around goats and how to recognize the signs that they want to be left alone.
Everything you wanted to know (and some stuff you probably didn’t) about horse health checks!
Fundraising plans are critical to creating sustainable budgets for animal sanctuaries. Here’s a short guide on how to develop a fundraising plan for your organization!
Running an animal sanctuary generates a lot of documentation! What do you need to hold onto, and for how long?
A short guide on how to be safe around horses and how to recognize the signs that they want to be left alone.
The dos and don’ts of protecting yourself with an accident waiver and release of liability form at an animal sanctuary.
How might zoning impact your animal sanctuary and its development?
An introductory guide for common llama health issues, illnesses, and diseases. When in doubt, always contact an expert or veterinarian for evaluation!
A short guide on how to be safe around cows and how to recognize the signs that they want to be left alone.
Did you know that a United States-based non-profit could be either public or private? Find out more here!
Things you need to know about caring for large breed turkeys such as the Broad-Breasted White!
Indoor and outdoor living space recommendations for horses
Indoor and outdoor living space recommendations for llamas
A short primer on how to protect yourself when someone gives you their animal to care for.
A few tips to keep older llamas happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
Want to add your experience and voice to The Open Sanctuary Project?
How to keep a duck’s home clean!
Why we list “Non-Compassionate Source” on certain citations at The Open Sanctuary Project.
A short guide of considerations when it comes to creating rescue policies for your animal sanctuary.
Please read our disclaimer prior to accessing The Open Sanctuary Project’s resources
Volunteer potlucks are a great way to engage the community. Here’s how to run them!
A short guide to safely picking up and handling turkeys!
The importance of crafting contingency policies for your animal sanctuary and some events to consider having plans for.
All the elements of a successful strategic plan for sanctuaries!
A short guide to safely picking up and handling ducks!
A short guide to temperature considerations for different farmed animal species.
The history and current challenges of the domesticated duck.
How to keep a chicken’s home clean!
Learn about The Open Sanctuary Project!
Why pigs love mud and how to maintain a safe environment for them!
What you need to know about chicken hierarchies!