Mission Statement

The Washington Wildlife Rehabilitation Association provides a network that acts as a unified voice, support system and educational resource for those involved in the rehabilitation of wildlife in Washington State.

2008 Board of Directors

Jennifer Convy - President
PAWS Wildlife Department - Director
Lynnwood, WA

Kol Medina - Vice President
West Sound Wildlife Shelter - Executive Director
Bainbridge Island, WA

Jenny Schlieps - Secretary
PAWS Wildlife Department - Rehabilitation Manager
Lynnwood, WA

Mike Pratt - Treasurer
West Sound Wildlife Shelter - Director Wildlife Services & Rehabilitation
Bainbridge Island, WA

Serena Lockwood
Friday Harbor, WA

Committees and Committee Chairs

Conference	Jennifer Convy
Education & Communication	Jenny Schlieps
Ethics	Jennifer Convy
Finance	Mike Pratt
Membership	Jenny Schlieps
Nominating	Jennifer Convy
Web Site	Mike Pratt

WWRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donations are tax deductible! Please consider us for your end of year contributions. The WWRA is run entirely by volunteers, so your contributions go directly to support programs such as the conference and website.

This is your organization. While the board members are here to serve you and run the organization, your input and help is essential for making this a successful venture. This can entail a small commitment or as much effort as you would like to put in. Become a board member. Become a committee member. Speak at the conference. Write an article for the newsletter. There are a myriad of ways that you can help.

History
The organization was initiated in late 2003 to foster a support network for wildlife rehabilitators in Washington. Previous meetings had been held between rehabilitators in Northwestern Washington in 2001 and 2002 to discuss how to provide coverage for the Whatcom County area. At that time there were limited resources in that region for an increasing number of injured and orphaned wildlife. From these meetings, it became apparent that a network was needed throughout the state to coordinate and support current rehabilitators and to provide training and encouragement for new wildlife rehabilitators. Kip Parker and Linda Williamson were instrumental in providing the driving force for the first conference in November 2003 to develop a founding board. This board was charged with determining the organization's name, mission, goals, and legal status as a non-profit organization.

The founding board worked through 2004 to create the framework for the organization including by-laws, standing rules, and the organizational logo. The membership program was initiated and members recruited and a schedule of newsletters determined. A second conference was held in November 2004 and a call for elected board members was made. The responsibilities for running the organization were handed over to the first board in January 2005. During this meeting, long and short term goals were determined and the first officers elected. 2007 marks the fourth year of the organization and is the third elected board.

A Wildlife Rehabilitator's Code of Ethics

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 wildlife rehabilitator should be responsible, conscientious, dedicated and should continuously work toward improving the quality of care given to wild animals undergoing rehabilitation.
3. A wildlife rehabilitator must abide by local, state, provincial and federal laws concerning wildlife, wildlife rehabilitation and associated activities.
4. A wildlife rehabilitator should establish safe work habits and conditions, abiding by current health and safety practices at all times.
5. A wildlife rehabilitator should acknowledge limitations and enlist the assistance of a veterinarian or other trained professional when appropriate.
6. A wildlife rehabilitator should respect other rehabilitators and persons in related fields, sharing skills and knowledge in the spirit of cooperation for the welfare of the animals.
7. A wildlife rehabilitator should place optimum animal care above personal gain.
8. A wildlife rehabilitator should strive to provide professional and humane care in all phases of wildlife rehabilitation, respecting the wildness and maintaining the dignity of each animal in life and in death. Releasable animals should be maintained in a wild condition and released as soon as appropriate. Non-releasable animals which are inappropriate for education, foster-parenting, or captive breeding have a right to euthanasia.
9. A wildlife rehabilitator should encourage community support and involvement through volunteer training and public education.
10. A wildlife rehabilitator should work on the basis of sound ecological principles, incorporating appropriate conservation ethics and an attitude of stewardship.
11. A wildlife rehabilitator should conduct all business and activities in a professional manner, with honesty, integrity, compassion, and commitment, realizing that an individual's conduct reflects on the entire field of wildlife rehabilitation.

From the NWRA/IWRC Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 3rd edition 2000