Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation Verified by the
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
March 16, 2012 (Pittsville, WI) The Global
Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized
organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries,
awarded Verified status to Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation on December 15,
2011.
Verification means that Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation meets the criteria
of a true equine sanctuary/rescue and is providing humane and responsible care
of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s
rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site
visit and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational
principles.
"We are very happy to announce the recent Verification of Midwest Horse
Welfare Foundation, Inc. This group is using its resources to benefit horses in
need within the community by rescuing, rehabilitating and carefully re-homing
them" said Jeannine Alexander, Deputy Director of GFAS. "Their attention to
detail ensures the safety of the horses while in their care and their adoption
process emphasizes the long term care for the horses in their new homes," she
continued.
Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation, Inc. provides care to at risk horses that
are surrendered by owners or seized by local authorities.
"Scott and Karen Bayerl are very proud of this accomplishment, stating,
"After 11 years in the horse rescue service, we are honored to be able to say
that MHWF meets the standards of Verification set by GFAS, and we are very
excited about our future. GFAS holds their sanctuaries to the highest standards.
MHWF strives to ensure the health, safety and well-being of every horse in our
care. We hold ourselves to a high standard as well, and each horse that comes
through MHWF is given our full efforts to ensure its long term health, happiness
and future.
Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation was awarded a compliance grant by GFAS to
help make recommended improvements to meet Accreditation/Verification Standards.
Compliance grant funding is made possible through a grant from PetSmart
Charities®.
The GFAS Equine Accreditation Program is made possible by generous grants
from PetSmart Charities® and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals®.
About Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization dedicated to the sole purpose of strengthening and supporting the
work of animal sanctuaries worldwide. The goal of GFAS in working with and
assisting sanctuaries is to ensure they are supported, honored, recognized and
rewarded for meeting important criteria in providing care to the animals in
residence. GFAS was founded in 2007 by animal protection leaders from a number
of different organizations in response to virtually unchecked and often hidden
exploitation of animals for human entertainment and financial profit. The GFAS
Board of Directors guides the organization’s work in a collaborative manner.
They represent top leadership from Born Free USA, The Humane Society of the
United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, American Anti-Vivisection
Society, and National Anti-Vivisection Society. www.sanctuaryfederation.org.
About Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation
The Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation is a volunteer run organization,
dedicated to providing qualified homes for any horse in need. It is the goal of
MHWF to ensure that every horse placed in our care is provided with all the
necessary ingredients for a safe and happy life, and that it is also protected
from those who would do it harm. For the horses placed in our care, we strive to
provide only the best homes with dedicated families for every animal we place.
About PetSmart Charities®
Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of
homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote
healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal
welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities® has provided more than
$134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and
has helped save the lives of more than 4.7 million pets through its in-store
adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward
its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org
or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).
About the ASPCA®
Founded in
1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and
serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters
strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of
cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty,
community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered
in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic
outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking
veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information,
please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to
http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca
Wisconsin's First!
The Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation is Wisconsin's very first GFAS Verified
Equine Sanctuary!
We are proud to be given this honor and to display the GFAS
Verified logo throughout our website.