American Sanctuary Association


The American Sanctuary Association is a 501 nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to set standards for animal care and housing. The goal of ASA is to link together sanctuary directors and founders in order to share experiences and to enable unwanted and wild unreleasable animals to find safe haven. The ASA is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

History

ASA was founded in 1998 in large part to fill the role for animal sanctuaries that the AZA fills for zoos, and in disagreement with the prevailing accreditation standards. Actress and animal activist, Tippi Hedren, founder of the Shambala Preserve, was elected as the first President, and still serves in that role.

Accreditation

ASA serves as an accrediting body for animal sanctuaries, ensuring that ASA accrediting facilities meet higher standards of animal care than required by U.S. law. As of 2019, the ASA has 50 accredited sanctuaries in the United State.
To receive accreditation by the ASA, a sanctuary must first submit an application demonstrating that it meets the ASA's criteria. Once the application receives preliminary approval, ASA conducts a site visit before granting accreditation. Among other things, the ASA looks at the sanctuary's financials, nonprofit status, APHIS inspection reports, habitat designs, food prep areas, staff and board of directors, emergency procedures, and general condition of the sanctuary and its inhabitants.

Placement

ASA does not have a sanctuary facility of its own, but assists accredited sanctuaries with animal placement. Unlike wildlife rehabilitation centers, wildlife sanctuaries provide homes to wild animals that have been deemed non-releasable, usually due to injuries or habituation to humans. Some animal sanctuaries specialize in wildlife; others work with domestic animals and livestock. ASA can help to find the right sanctuary to house specific animals in need of homes.