With searing heat dominating the weather in most of the United States, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity want to remind you not to leave pets in hot cars.
This is not your typical public service announcement (PSA). The Baltimore-based national animal welfare nonprofit added a twist to the storyline and there’s never been a PSA with underlying messages of race, equity, and inclusion.
In the video, a young African American man rescues a small dog suffering in a hot car in sweltering heat. To CARE producers, it was critical that the hero be a person of color, especially given that this PSA is based on a true story.
Last summer a young African American man from New Jersey rescued a dog from a blazing hot van moments before the animal died of heat exhaustion.
“This PSA is about killing stereotypes and expanding the narrative of the perception of typical pet owners in our country. Often the heroes are Caucasian, and the villains are members of the BIPOC community. Animal lovers and caring pet owners are of all races.” says James Evans, producer and founder of CARE.
CARE is a national 501©3 nonprofit based in Baltimore that addresses organizational and personal biases in animal welfare. The mission is to bring diverse voices to the industry while also advocating for a more inclusive path to pet adoption.
CARE believes in using evidence-based tools, narratives, and insights to inspire organizations to be more inclusive and less biased. It’s all an effort to save more companion animal lives.
You can watch the video here.
