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, three 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.
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This study fills a gap in the research literature by exploring the experiences of acquiring pets for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino families in Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia.
Key findings include:
• Participants reported varied experiences across pet acquisition sources.
• Barriers to shelter and rescue adoption included experiences of judgment, lengthy or intrusive screening processes, and a lack of cultural responsiveness.
• Some participants described experiences of discrimination from shelters and rescues, particularly related to race and income.
• Many relied on friends, family, and neighbors to acquire pets due to convenience, trust, and affordability.
One participant shared: “I want to feel like I’m being evaluated as an individual and not based on what you think meets the ‘perfect candidate’ in a way that is heavily based on characteristics and not whether or not I will be a good fit for this dog. I think that that would have made me feel a lot more comfortable in my process. And that would also encourage more people who are a bit afraid of engaging with the process to go ahead and do it, because they are afraid of that shame that can come with it.” - Atlanta focus group participant
🔗 Link to study in bio
NEW BLOG POST UP
Seeing a Community Through Their Own Lens:
Reflections on Photovoice from the Project Manager’s Chair
By: Celeste Morales, Senior Director of Research
“As a community-based researcher, photovoice reinforced an essential lesson: relational work takes time. Trust-building and rapport are essential cornerstones of community-based research, and for good reason. Because this photovoice project was the final piece of CARE’s broader Red Lake Human and Animal Wellbeing (HAW) study, it allowed us time to foster relationships.
But, I had also already learned that the timeline needs to reflect the relational nature of the work. Before starting the project, we built a timeline and shared it with the participants, making sure that it aligned with their own capacities. If it didn’t, we left space to make adjustments.” - Celeste Morales
Full Blog link in Bio
#photovoice #humanandanimalwellbeing #caregivers
A couple of weeks ago, Awanookwe participated in the Tails and Trails event; a wonderful opportunity to spend time with community members, their dogs, and others dedicated to helping animals!
Just days before the event, Awanookwe worked with Ashley Ann Peterson to coordinate a ride for a dog needing medical care. Awesiinyag are Loved (AA Loved) provided the platform to connect us, Ashley provided transportation, and we provided emergency funding assistance through our Direct CARE program.
It was great to meet Ashley of A.P. Grooming in person at the event! She also introduced us to Shelby of East Polk Canine Kennels and Sid of Smiley’s Rescues. We are thankful for these connections and look forward to getting to know these ladies better and exploring opportunities to work together. Miigwech to everyone who helped make the event possible!
#directCARE #InReach
Less than 1% of all veterinarians in the United States is Indigenous. In an effort to increase that percentage, CARE is pleased to announce the Shirley Nordrum Veterinary Scholarship Fund in honor of the late Shirley Nordrum, an Ojiibwe educator and community leader deeply committed to science and pets.
“I am passionate about dogs, I recognize them as a great gift from the creator to be by our side … I am passionate about the Earth, Ojibwe language and culture, about our youth and their future.” – Shirley Nordrum
The scholarship will be disbursed to US based Indigenous veterinary students annually. CARE’s Indigeneity REDI Course - haw.academy - is now open to learners. Please note that all proceeds from the course will support the scholarship fund.
This is a great opportunity to learn while also intentionally supporting future veterinary diversity.
#loveisthereason #vetmed #indigenous #scholarship
Private Screening of Brown and Bonded @brownandbonded in Philly featuring local Philly Caregivers, Felicia Harris-Williams of HiTouch, Jo-Ann Zoll and Dr. LeAndra Thompson of Providence Animal Center.
Friday, October 23rd
Event starts at 6:00
Intercultural Family Services
4240 Chestnut Street
We will be hosting a pet adoption event with sponsors New Leash on Life and Emancipet and the Most delicious catering from Black Dragon!
Afterwards, we will host a QA with Kurt Evans, Felicia Harris-Williams and Roderick Gilbert.
Please register today! Tickets are FREE but limited! (Link in the bio)
– Coretta Scott King

Written by James Rogers I watched Brown and Bonded as

By Thaddeus Johnson and Natasha Johnson Photo from Vanessa Marseille