Published: November 13, 2026
The animals who depend on Cotton Branch Refuge Project are individuals with needs, preferences, relationships, and the ability to experience comfort and distress. Their wellbeing guides our care, use of resources, and decisions about public interaction. This policy sets our public care commitments; individual treatment instructions and detailed care procedures are maintained privately.
Capacity and lifelong responsibility
We assess space, compatible groups, staffing, veterinary access, quarantine needs, and reliable funding before accepting responsibility for an animal. We must not accept an intake that would compromise existing residents' care. This policy does not reopen intake: consult our current contact and capacity notice before making an inquiry. Do not leave an animal at the refuge without an agreed placement.
Once an animal is in our care, we plan for their continuing needs, including aging, disability, emergencies, and changes in leadership. A safe, thoroughly assessed placement may be appropriate; rescue does not mean that every animal must remain at one physical location forever.
Everyday care and veterinary oversight
- Provide appropriate food, clean water, shelter, space, bedding, sanitation, protection from weather, and opportunities for rest and movement.
- Support compatible social relationships, species-appropriate enrichment, and the opportunity to explore, withdraw, and make choices.
- Monitor health, behavior, mobility, appetite, pain, and changes in quality of life. Keep individual care, treatment, and medication records.
- Seek qualified veterinary guidance for prevention, illness, injury, pain management, and treatment decisions. Only authorized, appropriately trained people administer care within their competence.
- Use humane, low-stress handling and appropriate biosecurity, quarantine, and separation practices. Prohibit abuse, punishment, frightening displays, and unnecessary restraint.
Breeding, placement, and exploitation
We do not intentionally breed residents or place them for breeding, slaughter, food production, or exploitative entertainment. Reproductive management is planned with veterinary guidance. Placements require assessment of the caregiver, lawful housing, facilities, compatible companions where appropriate, veterinary access, and ability to provide ongoing care. Agreements should address welfare expectations, follow-up, and what happens if a placement fails.
Animals are not props for fundraising or programs. We do not force affection, stage distress, or withhold necessary care to create a story. Any placement or transfer must protect the animal's interests and comply with applicable movement and health requirements.
Choice during visits and programs
Interactions are supervised and guided by staff who understand the individual animal. An animal must be able to disengage or retreat; a retreat is respected. We may end an activity because of discomfort, fatigue, weather, health, or safety. A ticket, donation, photograph, or program goal does not entitle anyone to touch or interact with a resident.
Humane end-of-life care
We prioritize comfort and dignity, including palliative care when appropriate. Humane euthanasia may be the most compassionate option when suffering cannot be adequately relieved or an animal's condition and prognosis make continued life inconsistent with reasonable wellbeing. We do not prolong suffering to preserve a slogan, satisfy a donor, or avoid a difficult conversation.
Decisions use veterinary assessment, the animal's quality of life, and consultation with the responsible care leader. Relevant observations, options, decisions, and reasons are documented. In an urgent welfare crisis, appropriate veterinary action must not be delayed by an unavailable administrative approval. Qualified professionals use humane methods consistent with applicable standards and law.
Oversight and concerns
Care leaders review practices and significant incidents, seek training, and make corrections. Anyone may raise a welfare concern through our Whistleblower Protection & Reporting Concerns Policy, including its independent review route. Honest reporting is protected from retaliation.