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 hundred percent of donations go toward the grant program.

Thanks to your generosity, AAVS awarded funding to the following sanctuaries in 2011:

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, 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 Global Federation of Animal 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 Primate Sanctuary, 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
In 2008, CSNW became home for seven chimpanzees who were relinquished by a Pennsylvania laboratory, where they were primarily used in hepatitis research and as breeders. . While the chimps once spent years housed in stark cages in a windowless basement, they now enjoy attentive caregivers, spacious and enriching indoor housing, and the warmth of sunshine as they live and play as a family in the new, 2 acre, outdoor 'exploratorium' built for them this year.

Animali Farm, California
Animali was awarded a grant to assist with their rescue of horses discarded from the Premarin production industry, which kept mares constantly pregnant so their urine could be collected to manufacture an estrogen drug. When this drug was popular, the foals were the unwanted consequence, and Animali rallied to save them and place them in homes before they were sent to slaughter. Now, as the drug's popularity has waned, Animali has been trying to find adoptive homes for the mares who are no longer wanted by the breeders. They have successfully placed hundreds of horses in recent years.

Center for Great Apes, Florida
Having studied and worked with orangutans since 1984, Patti Ragan set up the The Center for Great Apes in 1993 to offer permanent haven for orangutans and chimpanzees who have been retired from the entertainment industry, from research, or who are no longer wanted as pets. AAVS awarded The Center a grant to contribute to the healthcare needs of two elderly chimpanzees who had been used in biomedical research at the notorious Coulston Foundation in New Mexico after first being worked in the circus.

Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary, New York
AAVS's grant to Equine Advocates is to assist in care for horses who have been casualties of the Premarin industry, which exploits female horses for the production of pharmaceuticals. Since 1996, Equine Advocates has helped rescue thousands of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules from slaughter, abuse, and neglect. They also maintain an Education Center where visitors of all ages attend seminars, workshops and symposiums on equine issues, care and natural horsemanship.

Chimp Haven, Louisiana
Established in 1995, Chimp Haven provides lifetime care primarily for chimpanzees who have been retired from medical research. After passing the Chimp Act in 2000, the U.S. Government selected Chimp Haven to manage a new National Chimpanzee Sanctuary System, through which chimpanzees are retired from federally funded research programs and given care adhering to strict federal standards. In 2011, five elderly chimpanzees who had special needs due to their history in labs, arrived from a failed sanctuary in Texas. AAVS's grant will help to build a multi-acre, wooded 'island' surrounded by a moat, for the new arrivals, and for other chimpanzees who may require rescue in the future.

Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, Texas
Born Free USA's Primate Sanctuary provides nonhuman primates with high quality care in a naturalistic setting, minimizing human interference. The 186-acre sanctuary is home to over 500 residents, many of whom were rescued from abusive or exploitative situations. Given the Primate Sanctuary's acceptance of over 100 monkeys from a failed sanctuary in 2011, AAVS was all too happy to reward Born Free with a grant to assist with the care of the monkeys, many of whom are former research subjects.

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 provides expert standard-setting and onsite operations reviews in order to help sanctuaries provide the best care for animals. GFAS's involvement has been crucial in recent interventions when a sanctuary was in crisis and the health and well being of hundreds of animals was at stake, using its network to ensure that future care was secured.

American Sanctuary Association, Nevada
ASA provides support to sanctuaries, creating a network of those that meet its criteria. It also facilitates placements for animals, 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 AAVS's grant will help with expenses.