Without immediate government help, life-saving animal sanctuaries across the world will shut down. Save the animal sanctuaries!

There's never been a more important time for wildlife sanctuaries to exist in our world. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing economic hardship all across the globe, few people can afford to feed their animals — and pet owners, roadside zoos, and plantation companies alike are dumping abandoned animals outside the doors of many sanctuaries.

But since tourism has all but dried up due to health concerns, the sanctuaries are having problems, too. And now countless rescue organizations around the world — from the UK to Israel and Thailand and beyond — are faced with the possibility of having to close their doors.

Sign the petition to demand that international governments provide emergency funding for life-saving animal sanctuary organizations!

The national legislature in Israel has heard from multiple animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries that, during COVID, these groups are on the brink of collapse. The Starting Over sanctuary has testified that they can't afford to pay employees or buy food for their hundreds of horses, cows, and donkeys.

In the UK, a major wildlife sanctuary in Kent which cares for 1,300 abandoned and rehabilitated animals has also sounded the alarm. And in Thailand, the Wildlife Friends Foundation is seeing a huge uptick in monkeys, elephants, and bears being surrendered to their organization — but they're in dire need of financial support. Since the pandemic started, 80% of their funding has dried up.

Visitors provide the vast majority of these organizations' income, and with tours of the facilities no longer possible, suddenly their funding streams have vanished. Even small donors have halted their contributions. Yet the animals don't suddenly stop needing food, water, and veterinary care. And supplies don't suddenly stop costing money.

Unlike roadside zoos, true animal sanctuaries can't just suddenly make money by selling tiger cubs or pictures of chimpanzees in costumes. True animal sanctuaries never breed their animals, nor do they allow visitors to touch or "play" with animals, or force animals to entertain guests with performances.

Authentic sanctuaries also provide ample veterinary care, space for the animals to roam and safely interact, as well as toys and other types of mental stimulation — all expensive items. While roadside zoos, circuses, and even pet owners are free to just give up on their animals and toss them to the nearest rescue operation, sanctuaries are those rescue operations. What happens when they can't care for the animals they already have, let alone newcomers?

We can't let these animals' last line of help fade out of existence. Abused, abandoned, injured, and neglected animals need these sanctuaries — and the sanctuaries need our help.

Tell world leaders to provide emergency funding for true animal sanctuaries in their countries!