Tina Nelson Sanctuary Fund - Give lab animals a second chance
Home » Sanctuary Fund
Support AAVS
About AAVS
Print View Web ViewText Size: small medium large


The Tina Nelson Sanctuary Fund

More and more often, animals in labs are being given a second chance. AAVS offers members the opportunity to direct special contributions to care for animals who were once used in laboratories or exploited in other ways.

Through the Tina Nelson Sanctuary Fund, named in memory of AAVS's Executive Director from 1995-2005, donors can support one of our most rewarding programs, providing grants to sanctuaries that help animals recover and live in peace. One hundered percent of donations go toward the grant program.

Support AAVS's Sanctuary Fund2009 Grant Recipients

Thanks to your generous gifts, AAVS has awarded recent grants to the following sanctuaries:

Jungle Friends, Florida

This primate sanctuary and rehabilitation center has received grants to help support and continue to rescue monkeys from labs. This sanctuary is accredited by both The Association of Sanctuaries and American Sanctuary Association and comes highly recommended for standards of care, responsiveness to the unique needs of animals from labs, and conscientious management.

Mindy's Memory, Oklahoma

Part of the mission of this primate sanctuary is "to provide a healthy, safe, and humane environment for any primates needing care and treatment." They were in a position to receive a dozen macaque monkeys from a lab if they could raise money for their housing and AAVS responded generously. More recently, they arranged to receive additional monkeys who had been used in invasive brain studies. Remarkably, they have recovered. AAVS's contacts with the sanctuary have been very positive; their care for the animals is evident.

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Washington

The new home for seven chimpanzees who were relinquished by a Pennsylvania laboratory, where they were primarily used in hepatitis research and as breeders, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest was established in 2008. While the chimps once spent years housed in stark cages in a windowless basement, they now enjoy the warmth of sunshine as they live and play as a family in their new outdoor home.

Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, Pennsylvania

Ryerss has been awarded grants in special recognition of the extra care that is required by several resident horses who were previously used in production of snake anti-venom at a pharmaceutical company; their rescue and adoption program for Premarin foals; and the valuable role Ryerss' plays working with local cruelty investigators on abuse and neglect cases, providing care for animals in emergency situations.

Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Washington, DC

Formed in 2007 with the guidance and aid of several globally recognized leaders in the field of animal advocacy, including AAVS, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) serves to 'help sanctuaries help animals.' GFAS will distribute funds to qualified sanctuaries that need to upgrade their facilities in order to meet optimum care standards for accreditation.

Chenoa Manor, Pennsylvania

Chenoa Manor is a relatively new sanctuary and received grants for general support and, later, to build a special rabbit habitat. The Manor houses several rabbits from labs, all of whom are now in an excellent habitat, including burrows! This grant acknowledges the Manor's commitment to provide a haven for animals from both agricultural and science uses.

Animali Farm, California

Animali was awarded a grant in recognition of their dedication and leadership on the Premarin foal issue. Their mission is to find loving homes for the foals and the mother horses no longer needed in the Premarin industry, which collects urine from pregnant mares to produce a drug for estrogen replacement therapy. The sanctuary is ideally located to help with the horses caught up in this volatile business, due to the predominance of horses and foals kept in the western U.S. and Canada.

Noah's Ark, Georgia

This is a unique sanctuary that incorporates a residential program for children in need as well as a wildlife rehabilitation center on the same premises. This facility is located near Yerkes National Primate Research Center and is therefore ideally situated to help as a place for monkeys who have the opportunity to leave research and AAVS grants have assisted them in doing just that.

Peace River Refuge & Ranch, Florida

Although their primary concern is other wildlife, they do have primates from labs and are facing a land squeeze so funds are scarce and they appreciated a timely gift from AAVS to help cover the costs of care.

International Primate Protection League, South Carolina

AAVS has made several grants to IPPL over the years. Director Shirley McGreal is a pioneer in primate rescue, and has focused sanctuary care on gibbons. An AAVS grant in 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of the arrival of retired research gibbons-and mates--Peppy and Helen.

American Sanctuary Association, Nevada

ASA provides technical assistance to sanctuaries, awarding accreditation to those that meet criteria. It also facilitates placements for animals in crisis, directing interested parties to sanctuaries that might be able to intake animals, and helps negotiate funding and other conditions of transfer. In many cases, without help from ASA, some research entities simply would not even try to place animals, since they are not necessarily willing or able to research appropriate facilities on their own. ASA is all volunteer and grants from AAVS have helped them cover expenses.

Print View Web ViewText Size: small medium large
leftside graphic
content graphic