91%

A 2024 survey by USA TODAY Blueprint shows that 91% of pet owners have endured some level of financial stress because of pet care costs. In the summer of 2023, a Forbes Advisor poll revealed that 63% of dog and cat owners said inflation had made it harder to pay an unexpected vet expense, and 42% said they would go into debt if the bill was for $999 or less.

COMMUNITY ANIMAL CARE [CAC]

Community Animal CARE [CAC] is an innovative Public Health centered program designed to prevent and solve persistent Human and Animal related challenges. 
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.

Now more than ever, there is desperate need for basic resources within marginalized
communities – lack of pet food and access to care can make the difference between pets surviving or being surrendered to a shelter.

Community Animal CARE works as a safety net program comprised of two components.
First, Resource disbursement through In-Reach. Second, Care Centers, a unique support system for BIPOC lead Animal Well-being organizations.

More about In-Reach

The communities we love and partner with are dramatically and willfully underserved, compelling CARE to create a comprehensive safety net, Community Animal Care [CAC]. CARE Center Proximate Leaders regularly do fantastic work for their communities. But, because they live in underserved communities, they often face insurmountable odds. CAC provides an opportunity for Proximate Leaders and communities to have a Human and Animal Well-Being support system capable of saving municipal dollars and relieving suffering for both people and animals.

Aside from physical wellness, CAC will focus heavily on keeping pets at home.
To that end, the division’s In-Reach Team will ensure communities of focus are aware of local ordinances to thwart seizures and fines, connected with local and online pet behaviorists, and supplied with disaster relief guides and resources. The In-Reach team will promote and support community-based fostering programs, adoption events, and re-homing.

More about CARE Centers

The CARE Center Partner Program provides capacity building and technical assistance for BIPOC Proximate Leaders and nonprofit organizations to help people of color and companion pets through the Human-Animal Well-Being (HAW) framework.

Proximate Leaders are subject matter experts on the challenges facing their communities. Their solutions are often structured around insights only found through lived experiences. When allowed to lead, Proximate Leaders are far more capable of finding sustainable solutions for their community of friends, loved ones, and neighbors than outside organizations seeking to implement “charitable” solutions.

CARE Center Partners are located throughout the United States. Potential partners can be found in every underserved BIPOC community. We know, in many instances, community members and their Proximate Leaders are already caring for pets and people around them with few resources. CARE Centers’ mission is to support and amplify community leaders working to keep pets and people together. The CARE Center model is not prescriptive; CARE Center Partners range from traditional rescues to experts in dog behavioral training. We’re here to support our partners’ passions and visions.

Meet our CARE Center Partners

Alexandre Contreras,
Pet Trio Charity

PetTrio Charity
CARE: This core value is directed to the Veterinary care of animals through programs to offer financial assistance for owners who can’t otherwise afford emergency care for their pets. PetTrio Charity is taking a grassroots approach to raising funds and awareness for people and pets in need.

Location: Miami, FL

Instagram: @pettriocharity

Dr. Karlyn Emile, Global Advocates and Allies

Global Advocates and Allies
Global Advocates and Allies Inc. is a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC] led organization committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in human and animal well-being. Our Mission: To help create equality for older adults, children, and animals in the poorest communities of the world through advocacy, strengthening, and education.

Location: Miami, FL

www.globaladvocatesandallies.org

Dr. Makeba Clarke, Vetorious Community

Vetorius Community
Founded in 2022​ ~ Atlanta, Georgia by Dr. Makeba Clarke ​
Relational Coordination: Pet Parent/Veterinarian/The Community/ Invested Stakeholders Developed out of a need in the community in which South West Vet Clinic has been located for the last 40 years. ​South West Vet Clinic has 5-10 critical Pet Families weekly the client either must form a GoFundMe to cover the cost.

Location: Atlanta, GA

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/makeba-clarke-65768b40

Elizabeth Worthy,
Kitty and Pitty

Kitty and Pittie
Mission: To help our community, our way by being, and be a resource to those often ignored by traditional animal outreach programs. We believe that caring for pets starts with caring for people.



Location: Macon, GA

Instagram: @thekittynpittie

Francisco Serrano, Kentucky

During the aftermath, I coped like my immigrant parents— drowning myself in my community work with a mutual aid organization named Rise and Shine.

Location: Bowing Green, KY

Instagram: @riseandshinebgky

Jasmin Crisp, Love For Animal Outreach

Love for Animals
Love for Animals Outreach’s mission is to serve as a resource for vulnerable people and paws in the Atlanta, Tri-City, and East Point neighborhoods by: (1) providing a safe place for our youth to learn and be educated on basic life skills, including care for pets and our environment; (2) creating and delivering affordable shelters for outdoor and feral cats; and (3) providing basic food and care needs to families and pets in our community as well as farm communities in the rural parts of GA.

Location: Atlanta, GA

Instagram: @love4paws404

Johnalma Barnett,
Mount Zion 

Johnalma Barnett
Faith-Based Institution, Founded in 1886 in Bowling Green, KY.
Emergency and Disaster Assistance, Food pantry (for people and pets, Homeless outreach, Housing Authority Outreach.

Location: Bowling Green, KY

www.facebook.com/people/Mount-Zion-Baptist-Church-Bowling-Green-KY/100066769300880/

Latonya Walker,
Sassee Cats

Sassee Cats
“Latonya “Sassee” Walker is a force of nature – an indomitable, laugh-out-loud funny and streetwise former rapper who lives in Brooklyn and will hop in her car any time of day or night to rescue a cat. Her motto, “Don’t talk about it, be about it.” Sassee has the renewable energy of a superhero and a love of animals that is deep and unstoppable. And
her heart is big enough to accept the cruelty humans inflict on their feline friends without turning cynical or bitter.”
– Steven Lawrence

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Instagram: @sassee_badass_tnr

Nicole Jackson, Adventures with Autism

Adventures with Autism
We provide families with amazing new experiences each month, accompanied by certified behavioral specialists that provide caregivers with valuable input on behavior intervention techniques while the children explore, play, and gain confidence in their place in the world.

Location: Atlanta, GA

www.facebook.com/AdventuresWithAutism.GA

Timothy Freeman,
Brave Heart Pets

Braveheart Pets
Brave Heart Inc, is creating a community center for social justice learning, compassionate idea learning, Animal Welfare learning, and basic life skills learning.

Location: Atlanta, GA

Instagram: @braveheartspets

Sterling Davis,
TrapKing

Trapking
The Mission Don’t Stop, Ya’l
Trap, Neuter, Return, Educate, Include. Using TR as a focal point, I want to assist, educate, and service the communities who need it most to prevent overpopulation and spreading of disease in feral cat communities. TR (Trap Neuter Return) is the only humane alternative to euthanasia for feral cat colonies. And in order to get it done, we need to work together with the communities, for the communities, and for the cats, to get it done.

Location: South Carolina

Please give at: https://givebutter.com/c/TrapKing

https://trapkinghumane.org/

Bianca Gainor,
Furever I Love Atlanta

Furever I love Atlanta
Is a Mutual aid model focused on providing a host of community services, and resources. Furever I Love Atlanta is known for providing meals and support to people and pets without homes.

Furever I Love Atlanta is excited to be featured in Puppy Bowl XIX with one of its rescue pups Bleu! A curious pup with a nose for clues, Bleu is bringing his smarts, heart and bark out to the field! He is NOT afraid to go head to head… Color yourself surprised if you count out Bleu!

Location: Atlanta, GA

Instagram: @fureveriloveatlanta

Awanookwe Bratvold, Awesiinyag Are Loved

Awesiinyag Are Loved
(A – way- see ah Are Loved, from Red Lake)
Veronica’s organization, Awesinyag Are Loved, is centered on rescuing and providing a safe space to rehabilitate dogs, foster them, and rehoming them back to their community. Awesinyag also provides education on animal care and access to Veterinary resources.

Location: Minnesota

https://www.aaloved.org

Zhaire McCormick, Neighborhood Center

The Neighborhood Center
At the Neighborhood Center, we are breaking the cycle of poverty by offering Academic, Athletic, and Arts programs for children and teenagers. Our programs provide a safe and fun space for children and teens to engage in activities that challenge them.

Location: Camden, NJ

http://www.neighborhoodrising.org

COMMUNITY ANIMAL CARE STAFF
& ADVISORY BOARD

Community Animal CARE [CAC] is an innovative Public Health centered program designed to prevent and solve persistent Human and Animal related challenges. CAC programming only works when community trust is present. Our staff and the members of CAC’s advisory board have been doing the work to keep people and pets together for decades, and it shows.

Subscribe

* indicates required
BHM James Baldwin