We need you on this journey!

Mission
Team

Founded in 2020, CARE is America’s first national Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC] Animal Welfare organization. Please consider Donating today to ensure communities of color – and their pets – are heard everywhere.

Quick links

American Black History Month
VetREDI
REDI Training ( REDI Login)
CARE Centers
Podcast
Blog

Partners

Bailing Out Benji
Black DVM Network
Emancipet
Maddie’s University
Adopt-a-Pet

"We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are."

- Anais Nin

The Stories and Storyteller, Matters!

Featured Narratives
HAW Podcast
Blog
Bark About It!
The Work
Secretary of Shade, Amped by CARE

Featured Blog: Dr. Dolittle goes to ALEC

Featured Narrative

The Humming Bird Says So, A mini documentary by CARE

see our short film here >

“Minorities in general and Afro-Americans in
particular are still virtually invisible in all aspects
of organized animal protection.”

~ Society and Animals 13(2):153-162

OUR MISSION

Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), in the interest of Human and Animal Well-Being, prioritizes and amplifies BIPOC and other Marginalized Voices using Narratives, Research, and Community-Centered Investments.

Our Method For Change

CARE CENTERS

Community Wisdom, Community Solutions

CARE is supporting and investing in community leaders focused on sustainable and transformative solutions.

COMMUNITY ANIMAL CARE

Community Wisdom Amplified

Community Animal CARE [CAC] is an innovative Public Health centered program designed to prevent and solve persistent challenges to Human and Animal Well-Being. CAC will deliver critical resources to community members led by Proximate Leaders. In particular, Access to Care and Prevention, Pet Behavioral Training, Pet Resources, Compliance Awareness, Lost and Found Pets, and Involuntary Surrender Prevention.

THE CIRCLE OF LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP

Informed people make better choices.

The Circle of Learning and Leadership is a unique BIPOC-led educational experience with an ecosystem centered on Racial Equity, Community Wisdom, and Access to Preventive Care. Our goal is to bridge the information gap between traditional Animal Welfare and marginalized communities.

NARRATIVES

Hear My Story. See My Heart.

Stories shape our vision of the world and often frame our perceptions and biases. For this reason, CARE is producing and sharing stories that celebrate the diversity within human and animal well-being.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GIVERS CIRCLE

COLLABORATORS

You don't have to imagine a tapestry of beauty stories … follow us on Instagram.

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May 5

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🎉 We are excited to announce the launch of VetREDI this upcoming Friday, May 10th!

VetREDI is more than just a certification program; it is a catalyst for change. Based on the REDI course available on our CARE website, VetREDI is a platform that promotes a friendly, inclusive, and diverse community, paving the way for racial equity in the veterinary field.

👩🏽‍⚕️ Preventive care is an absolute necessity in helping marginalized communities overcome the various barriers they face. Despite the discouragement caused by structural racism and classism, we can work together to reduce harm and create more welcoming experiences for everyone seeking veterinary care. 🦮

Despite the shortage of veterinarians in the United States, we can still make a difference by providing comprehensive tools and resources to help underserved and marginalized communities. By embracing REDI – Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – we can inspire systemic and equitable shifts within organizations that adopt these principles. Together, we can create a better future for all.

🤝🏽 By partnering with @maddiesfund, @petsmartcharities, and our @carecenters, we aim to help our students analyze and understand our previous and current shortcomings in terms of racial equality. At CARE, we strive to guide dedicated organizations and individuals towards a path of greater truth and comprehension and, eventually, to take action. Our ultimate goal is to create a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable world that benefits everyone.

#CAREequity #VetREDI #Community #ThankstoMaddie #MaddiesFund #PetSmartCharities #CARECenters …

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May 3

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🤝🏾 True allies are a breath of fresh air. Real allies are folks who not only recognize their privilege, they utilize those privileges to ignite real change.

Some allies use their voices and votes to advocate for marginalized communities.

✊🏾 More direct allies will take immediate action to spark a positive change through donations, boycotts, and protests.

Allies don’t weaponize their generosity to shine a spotlight on themselves – they care about increasing awareness for a community whose needs and voices have been neglected.

📑 Example:

Your able-bodied coworker noticed that the office building lacked accessible infrastructure and accommodations.

Their complaint to the corporate office led to the construction of a new wheelchair ramp and accessible parking spots.

💬 If you`ve witnessed gatekeeping as a client or worker within the animal welfare industry, share your experiences and the lessons you learned below!

#CAREequity #HumanAnimalWelfare #VetREDI #Ally …

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May 2

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👨🏻‍💼The United States is facing a critical shortage of veterinarians, and we must take action to address this issue. With less than 60,000 professionals available to care for over 135 million companion pets, we must ensure that more individuals are trained and supported to enter the field.

🦮 Additionally, we must work to increase diversity within the veterinary industry and expand the reach of veterinary offices to underserved BIPOC communities. We must bridge the gap in access to care and cultural competency to ensure that all pets receive the care they need and deserve. 🤝

Despite the significant shortage of veterinarians in the US, we are committed to providing comprehensive tools to the field to ensure that underserved and marginalized communities receive the care they deserve. By embracing VetREDI – Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – we can drive systemic and equitable shifts within organizations, empowering them to make a positive difference in people`s lives.

🗝Access to preventive care is absolutely essential in helping marginalized communities overcome the various barriers they face. Despite the discouragement caused by structural racism and classism, we are confident that we can work together to reduce harm and create more welcoming experiences for everyone seeking veterinary care. 👨🏽‍⚕️🐩👩🏽‍⚕️

💐With the generous support of @maddiesfund, @petsmartcharities, and our @carecenters, we created VetREDI based on the REDI course available on our CARE website. VetREDI places great emphasis on creating a friendly, inclusive, and diverse community that promotes racial equity.

Join us in this important mission.

#CARE #CAREequity #VetREDI #Community …

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May 1

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever been afraid of the vet ✋🏾

Do you have previous negative experiences with the vet that discourage you from going back?
Did it feel like you were being interrogated and scolded by your vet for making a mistake with your pets?
Does it make you nervous to talk about money, payment plans, and finances with your vet?

🐶 When the same people we’re supposed to trust for pet healthcare and guidance give us a reason to feel fearful or anxious, it can lead to negative consequences for our animals who’ve been caught in the middle.

This, unfortunately, is the everyday reality for many Black and Brown pet parents who’ve been neglected by the veterinary industry, and it’s also the reason why we need more inclusivity in vet med.

❤ If you can relate to Hakeem’s experiences with being afraid of the vet, share your story with us below!

This clip comes from one of our newest CARE series, The Work: a free-flowing discussion forum where guests have an opportunity to discuss the personal strains and joys of working in fields that require compassion, kindness, and partnership with marginalized communities.

😻 Follow CARE to get updates on the newest episode of The Work dropping soon!

#CAREequity #HumanAnimalWelfare #TheWork #AnimalWelfare …

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May 1

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💙 What have your experiences been like as a BIPOC person in Animal Welfare?

🎙️Last year, we asked attendees at the 2023 Animal Care Expo to share their honest thoughts on being BIPOC in the field and the responses we received were heartbreaking and relatable.

❓ What about the rest of you? What life lessons and experiences changed did you gain during your time working in animal welfare?

Email us (equity@careawo.org) your stories and experiences about being BIPOC in animal welfare and we’ll feature them this month!

#CAREequity #HumanAnimalWellBeing #HumanAnimalWelfare #ChangemakersCircle #BIPOC #AnimalWelfare …

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OUR MISSION