An animal sanctuary is place where vulnerable animals can go to live out the remainder of their lives in peace. There are several important differences between sanctuaries, rescues and zoos.
While a zoo has a direct link to the public, sanctuaries are open in a limited way and sometimes not at all, especially because they are often working farms.
One of the main differences between a zoo and a sanctuary is how they acquire their animals. A zoo might buy, breed, sell, or trade animals. Meanwhile, most animals at sanctuaries are relinquished as their prior caretakers have decided that the animal can no longer thrive in their current environment.
Zoos are created specifically to exhibit animals to the public, collecting animals based on market reaction, potential for scientific research, and conservation needs. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and keep them for life.
A rescue is similar to a sanctuary in that it promises to take in and care for animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned but rescues will adopt out their animals. Dog and cat shelters are often rescues as opposed to sanctuaries since the volume of animals they take in can be high.
At the DSC, our priority is always the welfare of our animal residents which is evident through our gold standard of donkey and mule care, for our donkeys on the Sanctuary Farm as well as those we help through our education and outreach programs.
The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is an Accredited sanctuary with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries; one of two Accredited sanctuaries in Canada and the only Accredited equine sanctuary in Canada. For more information about us, please click here.
