Animal sanctuaries can house former zoo animals, exotics or domesticated animals.
Launching an animal business such as a sanctuary requires extensive planning. Sanctuaries typically commit to caring for animals for the rest of their lives, and doing so leads to many questions that must be answered before you open your doors. Locating suitable land, applying for nonprofit status, building structures for housing and developing a plan for food purchasing are just a few of the issues to consider.
Instructions
1. Volunteer at an animal sanctuary to learn the ropes. Ask the staff questions to determine what type of animals you want to house, how much it will cost to maintain them and how you'll staff your business. Observing a sanctuary from the inside should help hone your goals, especially if you want to shelter exotic animals or former zoo animals.
2. Raise funds for opening and operating expenses before you acquire any animals. Use direct mail, email newsletters and phone calls to develop donor relationships. Offer to tell your sanctuary's story for local or national media to raise your business profile and solicit more money.
3. Find land zoned for animals or apply for animal zoning for the property you choose. Local zoning laws regulate the types and number of animals allowed on sanctuary property. Petfinder recommends that you purchase land rather than lease it, so your sanctuary's future is not in jeopardy if your lease isn't renewed.
4. Apply for nonprofit status, purchase liability insurance and find an attorney to help you with the various legal aspects of running your animal business. To apply for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status, visit the IRS website (see Resources) to download Form 1023 (Application for Recognition of Exemption) and its instructions; you or your attorney can complete this form.
5. Build the appropriate structures. Hire an architect to develop a building usage plan for your land. Determine what facilities your animals will need, including an intake area where animals will be held for health checks and acclimation to their new surroundings. You'll also need an office that's separate from the animal facilities.
6. Determine staff your sanctuary. You'll need animal care, front office, fundraising and maintenance employees to start. You can also rely on volunteers for many duties.
7. Cultivate a relationship with at least one veterinarian who specializes in caring for the types of animals you'll house. All animals will need medical care at some point in their lives. As you work closely with your vets, ask for fee discounts. Also consider hiring a veterinary technician to handle basic medical care as needed.
8. Develop a multipronged plan for purchasing food. Feeding many animals becomes a costly endeavor over time. Reduce feeding costs by purchasing broken bags from local pet-supply stores. Ask pet-food distributors for discounts. Solicit food donations from financial supporters.
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