Equine Welfare Network: Eligibility Requirements for Affiliate Participation
To be accepted as an Affiliate on our Equine Welfare Network, the organization must certify that:
I. Business Practices
• The organization is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under subsection 501(c) other than 501(c)(3) public charities.
• The organization conducts publicity and promotional activities based upon its actual program and operations, and that these activities are truthful and non-deceptive, include all material facts, and make no exaggerated or misleading claims.
• The organization has a presence on the internet, i.e., a unique domain/url address that clearly defines its equine programs and ensure that the content displayed is kept current and based on actual programs and operations. A Facebook page is not acceptable.
• The organization effectively uses funds contributed for its announced purposes.
• The organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, disability, handicap, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
• The organization prepares and submits to the IRS a complete copy of the organization's IRS Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N in accordance with IRS regulations.
• The organization has an operating budget of at least $10,000.
• The organization's programs and activities are directed by an active and responsible governing body.
• The governing body of the organization consists of at least three voting members.
• The governing body of the organization consists of at least 51% "independent" voting members as defined by the Internal Revenue Service and/or at least 51% of the voting members do not have family or business relationships.
• The governing body of the organization meets at least annually and preferably quarterly.
• The organization attests in writing annually to the accuracy of its information displayed on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network.
II. Equine Welfare Practices
• The organization provides or conducts real services, benefits, assistance, or program activities involving equines in the United States.
• The organization must provide programs that involve one or more of the following:
a - Shelter and rehabilitation for America's equines subjected to abuse and neglect, and at risk for slaughter
b - Retraining and re-homing of America's equines in transition with careers as athletes, companions, teachers, and healers
c - Peaceful and humane retirement and end of life for aged equines that ensures that they are able to live out their lives in comfort and with dignity
d - Mutually beneficial opportunities for people and equines to partner for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being
• The organization has practices in place to ensure that all equines in the care of the organization and/or equines that participate in the organization's program have access to clean drinking water at all times, or at least twice daily; nutritious food in sufficient quantity, including natural forage such as pasture grass and/or hay; appropriate veterinary, farrier, and dental care; shelter and protection from the weather; and sufficient safe space for equines to move around comfortably and where equines have contact with other equines.
• The organization has practices in place to ensure that all equines in the care of the organization and/or equines that participate in the organization's program are afforded immediate veterinary care if known or suspected to have an injury, accidental or deliberate, or exhibiting such signs as shock, colic, founder, tremors, swelling, broken bones, open wounds, inability to eat or drink, blistering as a result of fire, acid, etc., irregular or abnormal breathing, partial or total paralysis, abnormal discharge or bleeding, signs of disease, severe parasitic infestation or infection, loss of appetite, weight loss, abnormal skin condition or hair loss, temperature fluctuation, persistent diarrhea, inability to bear weight on a limb or lameness, or other such signs.
• The organization conducts programs involving at least three equines.
• The organization does not engage in any activity that disregards the welfare of animals of any kind, causes an animal to feel pain or fear, exploits or harms an animal to benefit the organization, or willfully slaughters an animal to benefit the organization.
• The organization has not made and would not consider making equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine.
• The organization does not conduct breeding of equines owned or under the care of the organization that participates in the organization's programs.
• The organization adheres to a policy which does not permit euthanasia of equines on the sole basis of needing space.
• The organization has a practice in place that an equine will be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored.
• The organization has a practice in place to euthanize an equine upon the recommendation of the veterinarian that the equine is a threat/danger to itself, other equines, other animals or people after all other remedies have been explored, excluding if, upon the recommendation of the veterinarian, the only remaining remedy is isolation from other equines, animals, and people, and that the safety of other equines, animals and people can be guaranteed.
• All pastures are fenced to prevent escape or injury.
• All turnout areas are fenced to prevent escape or injury.
• To ensure that an equine is free of contagious diseases on arrival, the organization adheres to a practice that either 1) quarantines an equine for a minimum of 7 days if the equine is arriving from a facility with minimal perceived risk or 21 days if the equine is arriving from a facility of unknown risk or 2) requires that a health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival is provided to the organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine attesting to the health status of the equine.
• The organization has a mechanism in place to ensure that sick, affected, and/or quarantined equines do not have contact with other equines, and that all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent spread of disease by humans, equipment, and/or disposal of potentially contaminated substances.
• The organization operates in compliance with the biosecurity guidelines of the organization's veterinarian.
• Permanent or temporary structures where equines are stalled are kept free of dust, cobwebs, trash, cleaning rags, and other flammable items.
• The organization has not allowed, and would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
• If an organization re-homes equines for any reason, the organization requires that all potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between the potential adopter/purchaser; such contract must state or reflect that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
It is the position of the EQUUS Foundation that including this verbiage in the agreement reflects the shared recognition of the organization and the adopter that equines continue to be inhumanely 'slaughtered' and the shared commitment of the organization and the adopter to ensure that the equine be protected from slaughter for his or her lifetime.
1. This statement is not required to be included in the organization's re-homing agreement if the organization:
a - retains ownership of re-homed equine;
b - requires that the re-homed equine CANNOT be sold, adopted, transferred, auctioned, released, given away, or otherwise placed into the possession of another individual or organization under any circumstances and must be returned to the organization should the adopter no longer wish to, or cannot, care for the equine;
For an agreement to be binding on any future adopter, the agreement must include a statement that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, the organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason AND include the following statement below:
This agreement shall remain in effect until the death of the equine. The terms of this agreement are binding on any future adopter or any third-party person or entity taking possession of the equine and this agreement must be incorporated as an addendum to any future agreement.
The agreement may also include the statement: Any future adopter or any third-party person or entity taking possession of the equine must re-sign an agreement with our organization prior to the equine being placed into the possession of any future adopter or any third-party person or entity.
• The organization acknowledges that approval may be denied if the organization has been investigated by any animal control or protection authority - federal, state or local - depending on when the investigation was conducted as well as the circumstances and outcome of the investigation.
