Animal sanctuaries vary enormously in the quality of care they provide. Accreditation schemes exist to distinguish genuine sanctuaries from operations that exploit animals under a welfare veneer.
The term sanctuary has no legal protection in most jurisdictions, allowing exploitative operations to use it freely. Distinguishing genuine sanctuaries, which provide lifetime care without exploitation, from pseudo-sanctuaries that use animals for commercial gain requires knowledge of accreditation standards. Genuine sanctuaries do not allow public contact with animals whose species would be harmed by such contact, do not breed animals to supply the pet or commercial trade, and do not sell or trade animals except to other accredited facilities. Supporting accredited sanctuaries with donations and advocacy ensures that genuine welfare-focused organisations can continue operating.