# Required Animal Fields

Required animal fields are those fields which must be filled out in order to add an animal. When you have Data Management or Website service, your team gets to choose which fields are required when an animal record is created or edited.


:::tip
**Service Note**

Setting animal fields to required is a special feature available in the **Data Management** service, which is also bundled in the **Website** service.

:::

The only fields that are required by default when adding an animal are **Name**, **Status**, **Species,** and **Primary Breed**. However, your organization can set additional fields as required.

 


:::success
**Where do I find it?**

You can find the [**Required Fields**](https://manage.rescuegroups.org/animals_settings_fields_required) page by going to **Animals > Settings** and clicking **Required Fields**.

:::

To manage the required fields, a volunteer must have the role of **Site Admin**.

 

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__==Click here for information on permissions==__

The following actions are available for Required Animal Fields with the specified service and user roles:

| **Action** | **Description** | **Services** | **User Roles** |
|--------|-------------|----------|------------|
| Manage Required Fields | Able to change the fields that are required for animals | Data Management<br>Web Site | Site Admin |


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# What is the Required Animal Fields list?

The list of fields is shown below

 ![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/48da3d2a-9a3a-434b-824b-a6018154f31c/62b2361d-bfa9-4fcd-a557-a4fb1a788aa6/Screenshot%202026-10-07%20at%2011.45.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261023%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261023T193000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=487afe5d03cf13196a91977f2b0f7d49df317fe23022fa9ccf3240804e2ba58b&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject " =734x567")

Follow the directions below to make a field required or to remove the required status from that field.

# Make a field required

* Go to the Animal Required Fields page (Animals **> Settings > Required Fields**)
* Select the field you want to require from the Field drop down
* Click the **Add**  button
* Click **Save Required Fields** to save the required fields

# Make a field not required

* Go to the Animal Required Fields page (**Animals > Settings > Required Fields**)
* Select the field you no longer want to require from the Required Fields box
* Click the **Remove**  button
* Click **Save Required Fields** to save the required fields