“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

HAW.ACADEMY

A new home for your REDI coursework.

Never stop learning, because
nothing is more dangerous
than ignorance.

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

3%

A three percent increase in adoptions among people of color would give 2 MILLION pets a loving home.

97% of Animal Welfare holds an implicit bias against individuals from low socioeconomic status, and over 65% hold implicit bias toward Latin X and African Americans.

The work we do at CARE, Human and Animal Well-Being, addresses the bias within Animal Welfare in service to the field and marginalized people and their pets.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL WELL-BEING [HAW] is a unique, six stage, method of community support and advocacy that centers the well-being of people, in contrast to Animal Welfare’s traditional animal only focus. Few organizations work in the same way as CARE. As illustrated below, we start with building trust with community members before attempting to implement programming.

01

Our work begins with establishing trusting relationships within marginalized and underserved communities.
Learn More

02

We ask those closest to community challenges for their insights by way of Community Participatory Research [CPR]
Learn More

03

Insights gains from CPR and other studies guide CARE’s program design, partnerships, and resource distribution.
Learn More

04

Community Animal CARE is a shelter intervention program that supports communities with pets and their Proximate Leaders.
Learn More

05

Everything we learn from our community partners and research studies is hosted and shared through The Circle of Learning and Leadership.
Learn More

06

People of Color and marginalized communities suffer from negative stereotypes. Our Narratives tell a truer and more beautiful story about them.
Learn More

Our programs and their missions

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 delivers critical resources to community members led by our CARE Center Partners and 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.

careforequity

View Instagram post by careforequity

Mar 6

Open post by careforequity with ID 18307202701285226

Direct CARE CALL!🚨

This cutey named Puff Rush needs your help.

🩺 Urinary Obstruction Surgery
💵 COST: $3,000

The cat owner only got approved for $1,000 in Care Credit. Right now the clinic is Holding her cat until she can pay the full amount.

Let’s help her get her cat back ASAP!
We need to raise $2650
Donate with link in the bio!
Or
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FRS4TFNP987DE

All funds will cover her costs and the rest will go into Direct CARE funds for the month of March!
#givedirectcare …

17 1

careforequity

View Instagram post by careforequity

Mar 6

Open post by careforequity with ID 18381115117080826

The Gathering tickets are on sale!
May 11-13th in Philly
The Study at the University
2 Days of workshops and presentations.
Learn about branding, public relations, budgets, policies and grants.

This year’s receptions is a Black and White Ball!

Tickets are $249

BIPOC Tickets are $99 (limited quantity) – email jen@careawo for BIPOC ticket code

Special thanks to our main event sponsor Maddie’s Fund

Registration in Bio or https://secure.qgiv.com/for/companionsandanimalsforreformandequity/event/thegathering4/

#thegathering2026 #philly #alessoninlove #thankstomaddie …

19 0

careforequity

View Instagram post by careforequity

Mar 5

Open post by careforequity with ID 17884955613351540

🚨 Philly Residents! ALERT

The backyard breeding bill was passed with support from ACCT Philly and PSCPA along with many other local Philly rescues and animal providers.

⚖ Here’s what is banned:

1️⃣ BREEDER: Allowing a puppy to be born in Philadelphia.

FINE: up to $1,000 per violation. Each puppy is up to $1,000. Second offense is up to $2,000.

2️⃣ CONSUMER: Buying a puppy, unless from a licensed kennel (word is there are virtually none in the city), shelter or rescue. Buyers must ask for and the nonprofit EIN number or kennel license number prior to purchase, retain it for the next year, and be able to produce it upon lawful request.

FINE: up to $1,000 per violation. Each puppy is up to $1,000. Second offense is up to $2,000.

3️⃣ BREEDER OR POTENTIAL RESCUER or ADOPTER: Traveling outside of Philadelphia to facilitate a puppy exchange, for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of the law.

FINE: up to $1,000 per violation. Each puppy is up to $1,000. Second offense is up to $2,000.

4️⃣ BREEDER OR POTENTIAL RESCUER: Selling or handing off a puppy inside of Philadelphia (even without profit). The only exception is if it is a one-time hand-off of a single puppy that wasn`t bred or born in Philadelphia.

FINE: up to $1,000 per violation. Each puppy is up to $1,000. Second offense is up to $2,000.

5️⃣ BREEDER OR POTENTIAL RESCUER: Advertising a puppy (either for sale or for home-to-home adoption) without putting the nonprofit EIN or kennel license number in the ad.

FINE: up to $1,000 per violation. Each puppy is up to $1,000. Second offense is up to $2,000.

❓ What are potential scenarios where we see this as a problem, not a solution? …

96 30

careforequity

View Instagram post by careforequity

Mar 3

Open post by careforequity with ID 18058029605398438

In the early 2000s, Akisha Townsend Eaton made history and became the first African American in the U.S to dedicate her full-time practice to animal law.

🎓 Akisha, a local attorney from Bowling Green, KY, started her journey at the Humane Society of the United States. When she was growing up, the animal protection legal field didn`t exist — until Akisha graduated college.

“You know, you really couldn’t practice animal law or really any area of law and social justice without seeing the intersection" Eaton says. "Not a lot of people know this, but the field got its inspiration from the Civil Rights movement, as did pretty much every other social justice movement that evolved since then.”

💗 After the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina, almost 40% of the deceased victims had pets they couldn`t bring to safety. This tragedy strengthened Akisha`s mission to ensure people and their animals can live happily together.

Akisha sees her work in animal law as one of her "most impactful roles, because I had a chance to work on human and animal well-being together. So, making sure that people and animals can thrive together in society.”

🐶 Eaton currently serves as the Chief of Policy in the Environmental Justice Division of CARE (Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity.)

Source: WNKY TV @wnkytv

#CAREnews #BowlingGreen …

151 6

careforequity

View Instagram post by careforequity

Feb 28

Open post by careforequity with ID 18016208903818559

“We should be able to put resources and initiatives in motion in order for that bond not to be broken.” Dr. Sharmaine Miller

Brown and Bonded is a love story that grows and thrives. But regardless of limited resources, all of these women will share and support the power of Brown and Bonded relationships.

COMING SOON to a city near you!

#brownandbonded #brownandbondeddoc #adoptdontshop #petadoption #dogs #cats #documentary …

74 32

OUR MISSION

3%

01

02

03

04

05

06