SPECIAL SECTION
LOVE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
SANCTUARIES AND CAPACITY FOR CARE by Gary J. Patronek
The word sanctuary implies the noblest of human attributes: altruism, selfsacrifice, and caregiving. Indeed, the meaning of the relevant dictionary definitions seems clear cut. Sanctuary: a place of refuge and protection. Refuge is a place that provides shelter or protection; and protection is to cover or shield from injury, exposure, damage, or destruction. By providing these, sanctuaries, shelters, and similar organizations have saved countless animal lives, in addition to bringing out the best in people. How then is it that some organizations that begin with the right intentions can stray so far from this noble mission, failing to protect animals and ensure their most basic needs? There are at least four reasons why organizations fail in their stated mission: 1) the absence of regulatory oversight; 2) a lack of understanding about what animals need; 3) operating beyond the organization’s capacity and/or competency to provide care; and 4) exploiting the animals to fulfill human emotional needs, as occurs in hoarding.
Absence of regulatory oversight The care of animals in shelters, sanctuaries, hospices, or similar organizations is not regulated at the national level and, with few exceptions, is only nominally supervised at the state level. Occasionally, there may be laws or local ordinances requiring licensing of kennels or catteries, but those regulations tend to be fairly minimal and unlikely to guarantee that the needs of animals are met in institutional settings. In most states, almost anyone can establish a shelter, rescue, or sanctuary. Even obtaining formal non-profit status does not require demonstration of knowledge of animal husbandry or understanding of welfare. Thus, animals receive the level of care their caregivers choose, or are able, to provide. In some situations, this care may be exceptional; in many cases, it is adequate; but in a few, it may be so poor as to qualify as animal abuse.
Providing for the range of animals’ needs Although welfare problems are well-recognized for intensively confined laboratory, farm, and
zoo animals, it is only recently that awareness has increased about companion animals who also suffer terribly when their confinement limits social interaction, freedom of movement, and opportunities for mental stimulation and for exhibiting species-specific behavior. The Five Freedoms, originally developed in 1965 to guide farm animal welfare, represent a set of principles that are applicable to ensuring a high quality of life for any animal, including domestic companion animals. They are: 1) Freedom from Hunger and Thirst—by ensuring ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor; 2) Freedom from Discomfort—by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area; 3) Freedom from Pain, Injury, or Disease—by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment; 4) Freedom to Express Normal
Presence of Five Freedoms for Animal Welfare Animals’ quality of life
From hunger, thirst
From pain, injury, disease
From fear and distress
From discomfort
To express normal behavior
High
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Good
Yes
Yes
Yes
+/-
+/-
Borderline
Yes
+/-
+/-
+/-
No
Intervention threshold: evaluate capacity and competency to provide care Poor
+/-
+/-
No
No
No
A life not worth living
No
No
No
No
No
Cruelty typically proscuted
Quality of caregiving and results Competent Care Animal welfare safeguarded Borderline Care Animals at risk Incompetent Care Animal suffering present
AV Magazine
21