Gatekeeping Pet Ownership: New Report on Increasing Inclusivity in Adoption

Mounting evidence shows that BIPOC families are more likely to be denied adoption from an animal shelter or rescue organization than their white counterparts.

To address this gap, Life of Riley grantee partner Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (C.A.R.E) set out to identify the community-specific needs and priorities related to pet acquisition for BIPOC families and to identify equitable, accessible, and community-led solutions that improve access to pet ownership. They share their findings and proposed solutions in a new report, now available.

Gatekeeping Pet Ownership:

The Challenges and Opportunities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Pet Acquisition in Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia

In “Gatekeeping Pet Ownership,” C.A.R.E. looks at findings like:
📊 72% of BIPOC families had negative experiences with a shelter/rescue
📊 19% of BIPOC families had applications denied by a shelter/rescue organization

They also explore potential solutions, including but not limited to:
🎯 Providing services/supplies/information after adoption/purchase
🎯 Hiring more BIPOC staff members
🎯 Providing translation and hire bilingual staff
🎯 Attending anti-racism training

C.A.R.E.’s research team walked us through this data in our July Life of Riley webinar, where they showed how increasing inclusivity in the adoption process can help reduce intentional dog breeding.

Watch the video to learn more about these interconnected goals.

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