1. A
wildlife rehabilitator should strive to achieve high standards of
animal care through knowledge and an understanding of the field.
Continuing efforts must be made to keep informed of current
rehabilitation information, methods, and regulations.
2. A rehabilitator's attitude
should be responsible, conscientious, and dedicated: continuously
working toward improving the quality of care given to wild
animals undergoing rehabilitation.
3. A rehabilitator must abide
by local, state, and federal laws concerning wildlife and
wildlife rehabilitation.
4. A rehabilitator should
establish good and safe work habits and conditions, abiding by
current health and safety practices at all times.
5. Rehabilitators should
acknowledge their limitations and enlist the assistance of a
veterinarian when appropriate.
6. As a means of preventing
further wildlife loss and abuse, a rehabilitator should encourage
community support and involvement through volunteer training and
public education.
7. Rehabilitators should
respect other rehabiliitators, sharing skills and knowledge with
each other, and working toward a common goal: a responsible
concern for living beings and the welfare of the environment.
8. A rehabilitator should work
on the basis of sound ecological principles, incorporating
appropriate conservation ethics and an attitude of stewardship.
9. A rehabilitator should
acknowledge that a non-releasable animal, inappropriate for
education, foster-parenting or captive breeding, has a right to
euthanasia.
10. A rehabilitator should
strive to maintain all animals in a wild condition and release
them as soon as appropriate.