Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss how animal sanctuaries differ from petting zoos. While this topic might seem evident to many in the sanctuary movement, expectations from the public based on past experiences might lead to conflations between the two environments. We also discuss how animal sanctuaries and advocates can educate the public and avoid creating unsafe dynamics between sanctuary residents and visitors. This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: The Differences Between An Animal Sanctuary And Petting Zoos | The Open Sanctuary Project What Defines An Animal Sanctuary? | The Open Sanctuary Project Avoiding Harm To Animals At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Animal Sanctuary Project Microsanctuary Resource Center An Introduction To Fostering Agency In Farmed Animals At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project A Guide To Fostering Farmed Animal Agency In Sanctuary Education | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

The Open Sanctuary Project’s Community Education Specialist, Andie, and Nonprofit Specialist, Julia, offer an introduction to The Open Sanctuary Project’s offerings in our education and governance departments! Did you know that in addition to our direct care resources, we also have a vast array of resources on these two essential subjects for animal organizations? We talk about the many areas we cover and how the subjects of governance, education, and advocacy interplay with one another! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Strategic Planning for Educational Programming at Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Education Program Evaluation for Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project A Guide Fostering Farmed Animal Agency in Sanctuary Education  | The Open Sanctuary Project Adaptable Elementary- and Middle School-Age Sanctuary Education Lesson Plans | The Open Sanctuary Project Fostering Empathy Towards Farmed Animals  | The Open Sanctuary Project Fostering Critical Thinking at Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project Understanding Biases that Can Negatively Impact Farmed Animals and How to Help Folks Overcome Them  | The Open Sanctuary Project Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Members at Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project Accessibility for Blind and Visually Disabled Community Members at Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project Accessibility for Folks with Physical Disabilities at Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project Crafting an Accident Waiver for Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project’s Volunteer Policy Handbook  | The Open Sanctuary Project A Guide to Effective Tabling at Your Animal Sanctuary  | The Open Sanctuary Project A Suggested Governance Curriculum For Your Animal Organization | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project’s Board Resources For Animal Organizations | The Open Sanctuary Project Breaking Down An Independent Contractor Agreement For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project’s Resources On Volunteer And Worker Considerations | The Open Sanctuary Project Understanding Your Animal Sanctuary’s Zoning Rights And Restrictions | The Open Sanctuary Project What Is A Land Survey And How Can It Help Your Animal Organization? | The Open Sanctuary Project Understanding Legal Mechanisms For Conflict Resolution For Your Animal Organization | The Open Sanctuary Project Conflict Support For Your Animal Organization: Understanding Dominant Culture, How It Shapes Our Behaviors And Envisioning Alternatives | The Open Sanctuary Project Conflict Support For Your Animal Organization: Part 2 Building Transformative Relationships: Tools for Challenging Dominant Culture in Everyday Interactions | The Open Sanctuary Project Accuracy And Transparency: Two Critical Responsibilities Of Your Farmed Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

Community Education Specialist Andie and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss zoning laws and their importance to animal sanctuary and rescue work! We’ve done a few podcast episodes about capacity variables, and zoning is often touched upon. While zoning may not be the first thing you think about in terms of capacity limits, it’s critical for you to understand the zoning laws governing your property’s land. Zoning can impact the number and type of residents you can have, how many buildings you can have and where you put them, whether or how you can hold large events, and many other factors! Listen on to learn more! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Understanding Your Animal Sanctuary's Zoning Rights & Restrictions | The Open Sanctuary Project A Forever Home? Adoption Program Considerations For Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project What Is A Land Survey And How Can It Help Your Animal Organization? | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

In this episode, The Open Sanctuary Project’s Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the importance of language choices. Language is how we interface with and categorize the world around us. Our choice of language plays a significant role in how we consider others, so your language choices can have a tangible impact on promoting your mission and vision! We talk about how we use principles of respect and accessibility to guide our language choices at OSP, and we offer examples and explanations of terms and phrases that you can use at your organization to help flip the script when talking about animals! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Language Choices At The Open Sanctuary Project | The Open Sanctuary Project The Importance Of Language Choices At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Glossary of Common Terms | The Open Sanctuary Project Maintaining A Healthy Rooster Flock | The Open Sanctuary Project Introduction To Rooster Behavior Part 1: Dismantling Rooster Stigma | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia celebrate our seventh year of operation by discussing our year in review! We know that our audience of compassionate caregivers is often caught up in the day-to-day work of direct care for animals, so this is your chance to catch up with what’s new this year in freely accessible resources to help you do the work of operating your organization and caring for your residents! To get a rundown on the work we’ve done this year to help you, check out this episode!    You can support our 8 Days Of Giving Campaign here! This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Basic Sheep And Goat Care Course Part 2 | The Open Sanctuary Project 5 More Easy And Inexpensive Enrichment Tips Infographic | The Open Sanctuary Project Winter Staff Safety Infographic | The Open Sanctuary Project Behavior 102: Communication Infographic | The Open Sanctuary Project A Quick Guide To Effective Tabling Infographic | The Open Sanctuary Project The S.P.I.D.E.R. Enrichment Infographic Framework | The Open Sanctuary Project Visual Barriers For Residents? Infographic | The Open Sanctuary Project HPAI In Mammalian Farmed Animal Species: FAQ | The Open Sanctuary Project Electrical Safety Basics For Farmed Animal Sanctuaries (w/Michael Sizer) | The Open Sanctuary Project How To Conduct A Cow Health Check | The Open Sanctuary Project An Introduction To The Care Of Fishes For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project A Guide To Fostering Farmed Animal Agency In Sanctuary Education | The Open Sanctuary Project Caring For Pregnant And Lactating Sheep And Goats Part One: Pregnancy (vet-reviewed)| The Open Sanctuary Project Caring For Pregnant And Lactating Sheep And Goats Part Two: Labor And Delivery (vet-reviewed) | The Open Sanctuary Project Caring For Pregnant And Lactating Sheep And Goats Part Three: Lactation (vet-reviewed) | The Open Sanctuary Project Research Round-Up: A Guide For Farmed Animal Sanctuaries (collaboration with Faunalytics) | The Open Sanctuary Project Creating A Vaccination Program For Pig Residents At Your Animal Sanctuary (vet-reviewed) | The Open Sanctuary Project What Is The Veterinary Review Initiative? | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the cases for and against adoption policies at your animal organization and the considerations you must consider when implementing one. We talk about vetting homes, the paperwork you should have in place, the templates we have to help you, and more! To learn even more about how your organization could potentially increase your capacity through adoption, listen to this episode!  --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: A Forever Home? Adoption Program Considerations For Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project's Sanctuary Resident Adoption Application Template | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project's Sanctuary Resident Adoption Contract Template | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project’s Sanctuary Resident Adoption Record | The Open Sanctuary Project The Microsanctuary Resource Center --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss three administrative tools that are helpful (and in some cases necessary) for the effective administration of your animal organization: board bylaws, registered agents, and land surveys! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Nonprofit Board Basics For Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project Board Resources For Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project The Animal Defense Partnership’s Model Bylaws Template | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project’s Animal Sanctuary Board Member Job Description | The Open Sanctuary Project How Registered Agents Can Help Your Animal Organization | The Open Sanctuary Project What Is A Land Survey And How Can It Help Your Animal Organization | The Open Sanctuary Project Understanding Your Animal Sanctuary’s Zoning Rights And Restrictions | The Open Sanctuary Project Site Planning At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Animal Defense Partnership --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Emily Tronetti, a contributor to the Open Sanctuary Project and an expert on farmed animal agency, shares valuable insights on fostering agency in sanctuary settings. She emphasizes the importance of creating safe environments and understanding individual animal comfort zones during educational interactions. Strategies for promoting resident agency without physical contact are explored, along with ways to enhance visitor experiences. Listeners can look forward to practical guides and thoughtful reflections on nurturing animal well-being.

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss ten critical questions that you should ask yourself before you start a sanctuary! This resource is excellent for those new to the sanctuary movement and a helpful refresher for established sanctuaries and rescue organizations. It serves as a guide to some of the many considerations you will need to consider as you embark upon or continue to provide forever lifelong compassionate care to animals. Along the way, we will point you to our free resources, which will help you tackle these questions more easily!  --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: So, You Want To Start A Farmed Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project The Open Sanctuary Project's 'So You Want To Start A Sanctuary' Brochure | The Open Sanctuary Project Estimating Species Lifetime Care Costs At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Recognizing And Managing Compassion Fatigue At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Recognizing And Preventing Burnout At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Determining Your Animal Sanctuary's Capacity For Responsible Care | The Open Sanctuary Project How To Create An Effective Rescue Policy For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Resources On Budgeting And Fundraising | The Open Sanctuary Project Fostering Positive Relationships Between Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project Resources On Volunteer And Worker Considerations | The Open Sanctuary Project Accuracy And Transparency: Two Critical Responsibilities Of Your Farmed Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project An Introduction To Educational Opportunities Well-Suited For Microsanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project The Microsanctuary Resource Center --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the ins and outs of an essential sanctuary consideration: resident drinking water! Ensuring your residents receive the nutrients they require for their health and well-being is an essential aspect of animal care, but the importance of water and the logistics around providing it are sometimes overlooked. To learn about the nuances of drinking water considerations, including water testing, how to choose the best containers, and the potential impacts of weather, tune in! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Resident Drinking Water Considerations At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project Daily Diet, Supplements And Treats Resources By Species | The Open Sanctuary Project --- You can learn more about our organization here! You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here! Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Want to support our nonprofit’s work? Donate here!