The animal rescue profession preserves a special trust relationship within society. Members of the profession make a commitment to society that its members will adhere to high ethical standards of conduct when working with animals. These high standards are embodied in our ARPA Principles and Code of Professional Conduct (ARPA Code).
Members of the ARPA voluntarily agree to abide by the ARPA Code as a condition of their membership in the Association. They recognize that continued public trust in the animal rescue profession is based on the commitment of individual rescuers to high standards of conduct. The ARPA Code is an expression of specific types of conduct that are either required or prohibited and is binding on members of the ARPA. Violations may result in disciplinary action.
The ARPA Code is an evolving document and by its very nature cannot be a complete articulation of all ethical obligations. The ARPA Code is the result of an on-going dialogue between the animal rescue profession and society, and as such, is subject to continuous review. In resolving any ethical problem not explicitly covered by the ARPA Code, association members should consider the ethical principles, the animal’s needs and interests, and any applicable laws.
There are five fundamental principles that form the foundation of the ARPA Code: care, process, compliance, and ethics.