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To combine forces in cooperative efforts to rescue and place animals in the best possible environment for the individual animal.

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To strive to achieve and maintain high standards of animal care through continuing education and an understanding of the sanctuary field and its challenges.

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To acknowledge limitations when appropriate and enlist the assistance of veterinarians, TAOS, or other supporting organizations and professionals as needed.

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To strive to keep animals in as natural, spacious, and enriched a setting as possible and that will exceed minimum conceptions of their needs.

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Optimal animal care shall come before personal gain and the needs of the animals before one's own emotional needs.

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To strive to provide professional and humane care through all phases of an animal's life and to provide for the dignity of each animal.

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In providing for the well-being of individual animals, to consider the impact on the sanctuaries' larger community of animals.

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To provide for both individual and social needs of animals in enclosure construction, animal placement, and care practices.

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To be aware of normal behavioral characteristics of all species held and to take appropriate steps to correct problems leading to abnormal behavior.

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To recognize when an animal's quality of life and prognosis are such as to indicate euthanasia as the potentially preferred option for the good of the animal.

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Facilities and animal care practices shall be maintained in accord with TAOS guidelines.

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To conduct fundraising with honesty and integrity and to avoid sensationalistic and manipulative funding appeals.

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Facilities shall be maintained in good condition and in line with standard health and safety practices.

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To conduct all business and related activities in a professional manner, with honesty, integrity, compassion, and commitment, realizing that an individual's behavior reflects on the sanctuary field as a whole.

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To train, support, and supervise employees in doing their jobs well and provide fair compensation.

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Maintain financial stability, keep sound records, and follow standard accounting practices.

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Abide by local, state, and federal regulations.

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To ensure organizational continuity and/or the lifetime care of resident animals in case of such contingencies as the death, disability, or withdrawal of founders.

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To develop and maintain an active, independent Board of Directors to provide support, guidance, and oversight for the sanctuary.

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To encourage community support and involvement through volunteer recruitment and training and public education about sanctuaries and the circumstances that lead to animals' placement there.

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To treat other organizations with appropriate respect and share skills and knowledge that benefit animals.

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To avoid personalization and gossip in response to differences of opinion or philosophy.

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In public or private communications to give due recognition to the contributions made by others.

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To ensure that information disseminated about others is factual and when misrepresentations are mistakenly made to take necessary steps to fully rectify the error.

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If disputes arise between members and others, or if a member believes that another member has failed to adhere to this Code, every effort shall be made to resolve conflicts in a spirit of goodwill and concern for the welfare of animals.

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Unresolved conflicts shall be brought to TAOS for mediation.

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To promote awareness, empathy, and active concern for all life through education and advocacy insofar as sanctuary resources permit.

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To collaborate with others in efforts to alter attitudes and cultural practices that will improve conditions for nature, animals, and vulnerable human beings.

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To work actively to promote a compassionate ethic in terms that are humble, sensitive, and cognizant of the diversity of views and ways of other people.