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The animal welfare world – from shelters to vet clinics – is overwhelmingly white. The group CARE – Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity – is pushing for change, by investing in leaders from diverse communities. What does it take to dismantle racism in animal care and control?
FEB-2024 Four years later, have we made any progress? Kinship checked in with BIPOC academic-advocate and Pit Bull parent Kassidi Jones, (@gingernaps), who regularly details the racism grandfathered into canine rescue) for a state of the union, a year after chatting with her about her social-media activism. While awareness has grown, she contends, change never actually stuck a landing.
NOV 2024 – Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a nonprofit focused on addressing biases in animal welfare, has received a $43,720 grant from PetSmart Charities to fund a pioneering study on racial equity in pet acquisition and adoption. This 12-month grant, running through June 2025, will support CARE’s efforts to assess barriers to pet ownership for families in BIPOC communities and identify solutions to improve access.
This week Stacy talks to James Evans, president of CARE and multi-award winning creative strategist and leader with 25+ years of experience connecting organizations with their constituents. He has worked on numerous animal welfare projects including Gulf Spay/Neuter Campaign and HSUS’ Pets for Life, Outdoor Cats Research, Stop Puppy Mills and Spayathon, as well as Best Friends Animal Society’s Outreach Action Team, Maddie’s Fund, and SPCA of Texas’ Let’s Fix This Campaign. Throughout his work, he has always advocated for more diversity and inclusion throughout the field.
JAN-2024 CARE, the first national animal welfare organization of color in the country, focuses not just on pets, but their owners—addressing issues that negatively impact brown and Black communities. It makes perfect sense that James Evans’ life is filled with dogs. Guapo, a German Shepherd, and Rocky, an American Akita, occupy a lot of space in his Rodgers Forge home with their (big) personalities, (big) beds, (big) crates, and (big) appetites.
2024 –We have been following CARE’s work since they were founded by CEO James Evans, and tracking the new pathways and connections they have been forging in context to animal welfare and the BIPOC communities.
Sloane and the work CARE are doing are leaders in this field and unique in the intersections they amplify and work within. Thanks so much to Sloane for taking on big questions with many layers and giving us BIG answers. And it’s not just about equity. Turns out, it’s all about LOVE.
JAN 2024 – Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity, a Baltimore-based national nonprofit, is pleased to announce its fourth annual virtual speaker series. In partnership with the Black DVM Network, this year’s program will feature important conversations spotlighting African Americans actively engaged in the human and animal well-being framework while highlighting American Black History. The event aims to raise awareness of the underrepresentation of African Americans in the veterinary field, where less than 2% of veterinarians are African American. We aim to address this disparity by funding students committed to expanding access to veterinary care.
FEB 2023 – Bleu will get to showcase his future NFL prospects to the world as he looks to put on a highlight paw-formance in front of millions of viewers on Sunday.
The energetic puppy was saved by the rescue shelter FurEver I Love Atlanta, whose owner Beunca Gainor is Black and is one of only a handful of BIPOC rescuers in the U.S. that has founded a nonprofit animal rescue organization, according to the Companions and Animal for Reform and Equity (CARE). Gainor and FurEver I Love Atlanta are still searching for new homes for more than a dozen dogs who are in need of a loving forever home
MARCH 2023 – Go to any store nowadays and you’ll see prices on products the highest they’ve been in years. While inflation is something everyone is dealing with financially, there are some that just cannot bear the costs of those increases. They’re being driven into deeper poverty with the inability to care for all their family members, especially their pets. The cost of pet products has dramatically increased since 2022, and marginalized families and their furry friends are the first to experience these price changes. Whether providing for more affordable veterinary care, scholarships to BIPOC aspiring veterinary students, supplying pet food, or advocating for more inclusive practices when it comes to animal adoption, CARE is tirelessly working to help those who are under resourced.
MARCH 2023 – Tito’s has teamed up with nonprofits around the country to improve the lives of pets across the nation. One of their focuses is to transport dogs living in dangerous situations to safer locations where they can receive care and a better chance at finding loving, stable forever homes. For this particular effort, they have joined forces with three philanthropies, Wings of Rescue, Pilots N Paws and Mission Miracle K9. Another of their partnerships is with CARE, which stands for Companions and Animals through Reform and Equity.
MAY 2023 – By Dr. Azalia Boyd. Ms. Gibbs thought about the day she rescued Lola from the streets four years ago, and how much Lola has helped her autistic son overcome his obstacles at home. They never owned a pet before, but they were a family. She just couldn’t surrender her. So, Ms. Gibbs took Lola home and sought out the opinion of another veterinary facility. Fortunately, her limb was not broken and she did not need surgery, so information was given to Ms. Gibbs for proper preventative care for her companion. Unfortunately, cases like these are common in Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) communities. And it’s not uncommon for people to lose their pets simply because they can’t afford veterinary care, many times with very few options available to them. Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is trying to change the outcomes of these heartbreaking stories.
JUNE 2023 – Be an ally to those in BIPOC Communities.
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is offering their Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) virtual course free of charge during the month of June. This $800 scholarship honors the federal holiday Juneteenth. Juneteenth (June 19th), is the US federal holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. These scholarships are made possible thanks to the generous funding of national animal welfare foundation Maddie’s Fund. The course is geared towards animal welfare advocates, volunteers and professionals, but anyone can benefit by taking the course.
JUNE 2023 – In the gymnasium of the Ponemah Elementary School veterinarian Raye Taylor is hard at work. She’s visiting with a feline patient through the screen door of a green pop-up tent. Because of cats’ nature the clinicians found it easier to work with these patients if the cats are by themselves. But there’s more than just cat-care going on here. According to an American Veterinary Medical Association report “the veterinary profession is one of the least ethnically and racially diverse professions in the country.” Native Americans make up only about 1 percent of U.S. veterinarians. However, this week in Ponemah, the numbers are very different. This is the first pet clinic for the organization Natives in Vet Med.
JUNE 2023 – Introducing Sloane Hawkes
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a 501©3 national nonprofit is pleased to announce the appointment of Sloane Hawes as an additional Senior Director of Research Development, which will allow the Baltimore based advocacy group to create equity for not only humans, but animals as well.
Prior to joining CARE, Sloane was assistant director of research at the Institute for Human Animal Connection (IHAC), which is part of the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. She led a research agenda that uses community-based participatory research methods to examine how animal welfare, social justice and ecological justice issues connect. Her experience ties in perfectly with the mission of CARE, which is to address organizational and personal biases in animal welfare.
JULY 2023 – Support BIPOC and Marginalized Communities: Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity Needs Support this Giving Tuesday
Give Tuesday and give Direct CARE. That’s the message from Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a workforce development national animal welfare nonprofit. CARE prioritizes raising funds for BIPOC and marginalized communities, but to remain sustainable and uplift communities it takes a special group of supporters to make that a reality. CARE is the only nonprofit specifically focused on diversifying the animal welfare industry. It’s no secret that those in animal welfare tend to be predominately white women, yet pet owners are diverse across all races and genders.
This Giving Tuesday CARE is launching our CARE Givers Circle. Your donations go towards our Direct CARE fund which provides preventative and emergency veterinary funds without a waiting period.
AUG 2023 – As a queer Indian American woman, within and outside veterinary school, I often did not feel that I belonged to a community that understood all aspects of my identification and representation. The idea of inclusivity lacked the perspective of intersectionality, and consequently, my educational and clinical experience became very isolating. Where there was advocacy for mental health, there was absent cultural inclusivity. Where there was advancement in representation diversity, there was no community that would foster its longevity.
These experiences largely contributed to significant imposter syndrome, anxiety, and worsened depression. Our field already suffers from poor mental health, and without highlighting the intersection of marginalized experiences, we do no justice to the betterment of mental, physical, and emotional well-being in the veterinary profession.
OCT 2023 – Buying your dog or cat quality food, a cozy place to sleep, and a cute collar or leash gives you the chance to spoil a pet you love. Black brand founders are underrepresented in the pet care industry. It may appear that Black-owned pet businesses are rare, but it all comes down to visibility. They’re out there, and they’re doing great things. From food to accessories, these pet supply brands are perfect for spoiling your pet while celebrating diversity in the industry. The best part? You can feel good knowing your purchase supports Black small business owners and entrepreneurs while you shop!
NOV 2023 – Support BIPOC and Marginalized Communities: Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity Needs Support this Giving Tuesday
That’s the message from Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a workforce development national animal welfare nonprofit. CARE prioritizes raising funds for BIPOC and marginalized communities, but to remain sustainable and uplift communities it takes a special group of supporters to make that a reality. CARE is the only nonprofit specifically focused on diversifying the animal welfare industry. It’s no secret that those in animal welfare tend to be predominately white women, yet pet owners are diverse across all races and genders.
This Giving Tuesday CARE is launching our CARE Givers Circle. Your donations go towards our Direct CARE fund which provides preventative and emergency veterinary funds without a waiting period.
JAN 2022 – In this compelling episode of Conservation Conversations, Sean sits down with James Evans, Founder and CEO of Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a BIPOC-led organization that addresses animal welfare through the well-being of both animals and humans. James, also a professional wildlife photographer, shares the philosophy behind his new book showcasing his work, Among the Birds, I am Human. Learn how organizations like CARE are reframing how we identify and solve problems within communities and how choice at the individual level can make a world of differences
JAN 2022 – Diversifying the veterinary field through education and resources. To help animal welfare professionals hire BIPOC employees, CARE is developing a “matchmaking” database of people of color who currently work in animal welfare or are interested in doing so. The nonprofit also funds work of people of color starting their own nonprofits, hosts webinars about increasing equity in animal welfare, and will be offering a Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) certification course this fall, thanks to Maddie’s Fund and PetSmart Charities.
FEB 2022 – Miller is a retired officer with the Baltimore Police Department who says she’s more than prepared to care for an animal. “Unfortunately, it seems very common, specifically for people of color,” said Michael Bricker, chief engagement officer and CARE Center director. “We’ve heard these stories all over.” Leslie eventually found CARE, which stands for Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity.
MARCH 2022 -The deadly December tornado outbreak placed a heavy strain on pet owners, limiting their ability to seek adequate shelter from the storms without leaving their companions.
A new study funded by the Baltimore-based Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity, or CARE, will explore the experiences of Black, Indigienous, and People of Color (BIPOC) pet owners in Bowling Green who survived the storms.
APRIL 2022 – Maddie’s Fund®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, announced today a $1.7 million grant awarded to Companions Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE). This three-year grant will support the expansion of their CARE Centers by adding five to ten centers each year.
“Equity is the outcome we seek for all communities,” said James Evans, CEO and founder of CARE. “Thanks to Maddie, CARE will expand its CARE Center model focused on work with proximate leaders, who have meaningful relationships with marginalized communities who seek to keep pets with their families. CARE Centers assist in creating workforce development opportunities that are created by and for the community, placing value on their wisdom.”
MAY 2022 – Hakeem Ruiz hopes to make life better for BIPOC pet owners in Camden and the City of Brotherly Love.
Hakeem Ruiz became a pet parent as a teenager, taking in a stray dog.
“I was a 19-year-old dog owner that didn’t know anything. I didn’t know where to go to get properly priced shots, where to get the right questions answered, who was and wasn’t going to respect me,” the Philadelphia resident said.
Ruiz, now 32, had Gucci for about 13 years until he passed recently.
As a new pet owner, Ruiz sought answers and advice wherever he could find them. But, he also found himself exposed to the low points of the animal care system, often feeling taken advantage of for trying to properly care for his dog.
JUNE 2022 – The field clinic was operated on a walk-up, first-come, first-served basis. Pet owners checking in filled out forms with their pet’s name and overall health information. The sheet was handed off to Secondhand Hounds’ Kate Sobraske, who tracked the veterinarian’s waitlist, as well as the care received.
Meanwhile, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) and Awesiinyag love to help distribute pet supplies to families.
JULY 2022 – Showcasing the faces of diversity in animal welfare
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is pleased to unveil a new public service announcement (PSA) showcasing more diversity on a well-known topic that typically does not feature people of color. Dozens of PSA’s on pets in hot cars have been created in the past, but few with underlying messages of race, equity and inclusion.
JULY 2022 –Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe hosts a camp to educate children about animal welfare careers
The first-ever veterinary camp on the Mille Lacs Reservation was held on Friday, and a special guest in attendance was a former rapper turned cat trapper. Sterling “Trapking” Davis was at the DI Community Aquatic & Fitness Center in Onamia to teach those in attendance the importance of animals and how they should be properly cared for.
AUGUST 2022 – Rapper DDm Showcases That’s My Dog to call attention to racial stereotyping in animal rescue
CARE’s founder and CEO, James Evans got the idea to produce the video to combat racism and bias that is often found in the animal welfare industry. It’s no secret people of color often face discrimination when it comes to adopting pets. Evans recently met fellow Baltimore native DDm, a rapper and hip-hop artist who is also a dog lover. The two decided a music video was the best way to educate people about racial stereotypes in the animal welfare industry. The performer soon came up with the rap to hammer home key messages and That’s my Dog became a reality.
SEPT 2022 – New course tackles how animal welfare work intersects with racism
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), a Baltimore-based nonprofit that focuses on the nexus of animal welfare and racial justice, is partnering with researchers and professors at Huston-Tillotson University to bring an intersectional lens to a sociology class on animals and society this fall. The course is one of the first of its kind in the U.S., and fills a gap that Mueni Loko Rudd, CARE’s director of research and development, says is missing from the predominantly white animal welfare space. The class grew out of a University of Tennessee, Knoxville study that examined how animal control and welfare organizations’ policies disparately affect people of different racial and ethnic groups. The scope will be broad, though, considering interactions between animals and society beyond the shelter system, “remembering these harmonious relationships that we have had historically with animals in the environment,” says Rudd.
OCT 2022 – New African American Led Animal Rescue Nonprofit Ready to Make a Difference
Carina Cheatham aka “Nina Love” hasn’t met many people in animal welfare who look like her, but that never stopped her from helping a creature in need. That’s where Ava comes in. “I want to use my platform so other people can see it’s possible,” said Cheatham, 31, a veterinary technician. “I feel like as a Black woman, they need to see they can do it as well.” Now that she has started her nonprofit, The Black Thornberry, Cheatham has been trying to raise the funds to buy a van for her animal rescue work around the Philadelphia area.
OCT 2022 – First Ever Animal Welfare Conference October 7 and 8 Led by BIPOC Animal Lovers
Animal welfare is not known for diversity, but “The Gathering” in Philadelphia is. CARE is the only BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) led nonprofit that prioritizes human and animal wellbeing, equity-centered research, and storytelling from the views of those impacted. The conference is called “The Gathering”, and the goal is to increase awareness of the work within BIPOC communities and demonstrate the deployment of human and animal well-being framework. The event is an exchange of ideas between donor organizations, social justice leaders, and animal welfare executives, about the best means to keep pets at home.
OCT 2022 – After wreaking havoc on Southeast Florida, Hurricane Ian will now test the effectiveness of a new and unique state law aimed at reuniting pets with their owners and reducing euthanasia. It’s something that Akisha Townsend Eaton is watching closely as chief of policy for the environmental justice division of Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity, or CARE.
OCT 2022 – James Evans has been honored to present the 2022 Avanzino Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership and purposeful dedication to the human-animal bond.
“James has profoundly changed our field through racial equality, diversity and inclusion,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team, Maddy’s Fund. “He is creating space for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the animal welfare sector; And recreating animal welfare outside the walls of the shelter, within the community.” CARE is a collection of passionate activists and deep thinkers focused on better outcomes for people and pets. Organizations are unique in that they are not striving to do the best work done by those directly affected by inequalities. However, they are creating tools and opportunities for marginalized people to rebuild their communities.
2020- The folks at CARE want to change the narrative–and the numbers–when it comes to animal rescue. With a 20% adoption gap between White Americans and Black Americans, the CARE (Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity) team is on a mission to bring diversity and inclusion to animal welfare. The goal: Get more pets into loving homes by encouraging adoption organizations to be more inclusive and less biased–or as they put it, “save more companion animal lives and elevate the value of all human life.”
