The Sanctuary
In addition to finding loving forever homes for adoptable pets, ACR&S also acts as a Sanctuary where unwanted animals can live out their days in an environment of peace and love.
Our current Sanctuary residents live in foster homes around Madison, WI. These animals are not available for adoption, but if you would like to know more or make a special donation for them, please email us!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do animals wind up in the Sanctuary?
ACR&S was created primarily to assist other rescues, and most of our Sanctuary residents have come from other local rescues or shelters who have asked us to take them. Sometimes a rescue does not want to euthanize a sweet but special needs animal, but the rescue can't keep the animal themselves because they need to focus their efforts on animals which are more adoptable.
ACR&S also has a "lifetime guarantee" on all adopted animals. That means that at ANY time, even if many years have passed, an adopter can return their animal to us, no questions asked. Several of the Sanctuary residents came to us in this way.
Why do you take in animals which are not adoptable?
None of these animals is literally unadoptable. Most of them have merely been betrayed by human ignorance. Through no fault of their own, they have been dumped over and over again. Mostly, their owners did not know how high-maintenance these "throwaway" pets can be, especially as they age.
The problem is, most adopters do not want animals which require a lot of time, financial commitment (for vetcare) or who may die within a year or two. Our Sanctuary work allows us to give these animals the second chance they have been denied. In some cases, we ARE able to place Sanctuary animals with adopters who understand the realities of owning senior and special-needs animals.
What do you do that is special for these animals?
Special needs animals require extra time and extra money. Many of them require daily medication, others are incontinent and require extra cage cleanings. And all of them require more frequent vet visits, which costs a lot of money, and none of these guys qualify for Medicaid! But it is not anything that the average person couldn't do, so if you would like to know more about caring for special needs animals, just let us know.
I'd like to help a Sanctuary animal. What do you need most?
Our most urgent need is for money to cover vet bills. We are 501(c)3 so most donations are tax deductible (check with your accountant to be sure). We can take donations directly, or contact us for information on donating directly to our veterinarians.
Some of our Sanctuary residents could possibly be placed in a foster home. If you are interested in getting first-hand experience in caring for special needs animals, fostering a Sanctuary resident might be for you! You must be VERY knowledgeable about the species you are interested in, willing to provide basic medical care like oral medications, subcu injections, and syringe feeding, and must be willing to abide by very strict housing and dietary requirements to keep the animal healthy.
Why is your Rescue in NC but your Sanctuary is in WI?
In NC, ACR&S is one of the very few rescues which takes in guinea pigs & rabbits. Our folks down there needs to focus on adoptable animals. But in Wisconsin, there are two excellent local rescues already doing adoptions for these species. This allows the WI folks to concentrate our efforts on special needs animals.
What if I want to adopt an animal, do you have any that are adoptable?
If you are in Wisconsin, please visit one of the wonderful local rescues who specialize in adoptions:
Wisconsin House Rabbit Society
Wisconsin Guinea Pig Rescue
If you are in North Carolina, check the ACR&S Petfinder Page for the most up-to-date list of adoptable animals.