August 3, 2012 (Blairstown, NJ) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Verified status to Saddlebred Rescue, Inc. as of August 1, 2012.

Verification means that Saddlebred Rescue meets the criteria of a true equine sanctuary/rescue and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site visit and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational principles.

“We are very happy to announce the recent verification of Saddlbred Rescue. This rescue is doing a fantastic job rescuing and retraining Saddlebred horses enabling them to go on to second careers and enriched lives,” said Jeannine Alexander, Deputy Director of GFAS.

“As the rescue business is not regulated, it is difficult for donors to evaluate where to put their nonprofit animal support. We believe that achieving GFAS accreditation would be the equivalent to having a AAA rating from one of the credit rating agencies. We expect that having the GFAS status of Verified will open more doors to foundations and grant providers which will broaden Saddlebred’s ability to save horses. We also look forward to the additional credibility that pursuing GFAS Accreditation will bring," states Mark McCracken, President.

The GFAS Equine Accreditation Program is made possible by generous grants from PetSmart Charities® and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®.