Farm animal sanctuary on Big Island receives accredited status

Magical Creatures Sanctuary, which rescues, rehabilitates and offers life-long sanctuary to animals on the Big Island, has been awarded accredited status by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

The federation is the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries.

The sanctuary opened in 2018 in Laupāhoehoe and is home to more than 90 goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, ducks and cats who were saved from slaughter, rescued from neglect, have special needs, or were orphaned or injured in the wild.

Accreditation signifies that Magical Creatures Sanctuary meets the federations’ rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards that are confirmed by a comprehensive site visit, according to a press release from the sanctuary.

Accreditation also signifies adherence to standards addressing the sustainability of the organization, ethical principles, finances, staffing, education, outreach, security and safety and other operational aspects.

“We are grateful for the opportunities to share the stories of our residents at Magical Creatures” said John Hubers, Managing Director at Magical Creatures. “We want to stop the cycle of farmed animal abuse by educating our communities and advocating for the animals every chance we get.

“We recruit and train local volunteers to engage with the Sanctuary’s residents and to get to know them as individuals over an extended period of time. We also offer public and private tours to provide a more condensed introduction to our work and our mission.”

Hubers also said: “We are very proud to have achieved GFAS Accreditation. While the process is rigorous and challenging, we greatly valued the opportunity to improve our policies and procedures and to discover new ways in which to care for our residents more thoroughly. This highly respected endorsement will let the world know that we are legitimate, professional, and fully committed to our work.”

The global federation’s Farmed Animal Program Director, Jessica Harris, MS, said Magical Creatures Sanctuary is the only multi-species, nonprofit farm sanctuary operating on the Big Island, providing a soft landing for farmed animals who would have nowhere else to turn.

“They have stepped up to this role with a strong philosophy of compassion – carried out in their professionalism, intern and volunteer opportunities, and powerful education work,” Harris said. “They embody what it means to be a true sanctuary- it’s not magic – just daily dedication to excellence in all they do, for the animals’ sake.”

To learn more visit https://www.magicalcreaturessanctuary.org/