The Open Sanctuary Project is a freely accessible, always growing digital guide for any resources or information you need in order to responsibly create and successfully manage an animal sanctuary or to provide the best possible care to animals in order to help them live long, healthy, happy lives free of exploitation.
All of our resources are researched and responsibly crafted with the
intention of promoting compassionate care standards and practices for
animals in need of help and sanctuary, while identifying and discouraging
practices that are exploitative or harmful to the individual.
A Resource For Farmed Animal Sanctuaries
Although many of our resources have applicability to many different types of
animal sanctuaries and rescues (and we encourage sanctuaries of all species
mixes to make use of them!), our current primary focus is addressing the
needs and unique challenges of farmed animal sanctuaries. As the farmed
animal sanctuary community continues to spread across the world, with new
sanctuaries opening each year, we believe there is a significant need for
resources specifically developed to help farmed animal sanctuaries provide
the best care possible for their residents and develop best practices in
order to effectively carry out their mission in a sustainable manner.
Our Philosophy
We believe that there is no “one size fits all” model for animal
sanctuaries; species mix, population size, climate, organizational
structure, Philosophy of Care, and public outreach strategies are a small
sample of the many variables that each animal sanctuary needs to consider as
they grow and conduct their mission. As a result, what works well for one
sanctuary may not be appropriate for another. We wish to honor the diversity
of the animal sanctuary movement while providing the contextual tools and
information necessary for every organization and their residents to thrive.
Our resources often include perspectives from different organizations, which
may highlight the practical, the ethical, and the philosophical
considerations that go into any one particular course of action.
Information Sourcing
You can find our sourcing for various resources at the base of each
resource. If it appears like a portion of information did not come from any
of the sources listed below, this means that the credited author is drawing
upon direct experience with the topic at hand as a sanctuary caregiver or
expert. If you have further questions about any particular part of a
resource, you can always get in touch with us!
Non-Compassionate Sources?
Due to the prevalence of commercial animal agriculture and its impact on
research, many of the sources we cite in our research do not share our views
on compassionate care and treatment of animals. We try our best to source
information on longterm care and treatment from organizations that align
with our values, but this is not always possible. Read more about our
sourcing here.
A Brief History Of The Open Sanctuary Project
The Open Sanctuary Project was originally envisioned by Shaleen and Shilpi
Shah in 2015. Shaleen and Shilpi were seeking online information covering
farmed animal sanctuary operation and resident care standards prior to
founding Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary, and were surprised to find reliable,
compassionate information quite difficult to come across.
Three years later, The Open Sanctuary Project, Inc. was formally launched as
a fully independent organization under the direction of Zee Griffler,
Executive Editor.
Since 2018, The Open Sanctuary Project has been researching sanctuary models
and needs, conferring with sanctuary, animal advocacy, and nonprofit experts
across the world, and developing resources to help animal sanctuaries have
all the tools and information required to help their organizations thrive.
Our resources have been put into use and endorsed by sanctuaries, animal
rescue organizations, and other nonprofits worldwide.
Return to: Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies
See also Refuges and Sanctuaries for Farmed Animals That Promote Veganism