ABOUT
ACCESS
Children, adults, elders, dogs, cats and everyone else should feel safe in their own community.
Animal Care & Community Empowered Safety Society (ACCESS) is a network of Indigenous communities partnering with animal service providers. We are inspired to shake up the inequitable, unjust, 125+ year status quo and improve the access Indigenous communities have to essential animal services by combining our voices, resources and experiences.
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Our goal is improved community health and safety for everyone - the dogs, cats, humans, and wild animals - as our wellbeing is interconnected.
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- Overpopulations of cats and dogs can quickly lead to increases in human/wildlife conflict potential resulting in negative consequences for all.
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- Unwanted dogs and cats may get sick and spread deadly diseases like Parvo Virus that can affect wolf populations, increase human/wildlife conflict potential, and otherwise negatively impact community residents.
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- Surveys have shown that improving dog and cat care can lead to our children, youth and elders feeling safer as they get around their community.
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Historically, the 'animal welfare' sector has lacked inclusion of Indigenous perspectives. This has caused harm including influencing unjust government policies and resource allocations. ACCESS is bringing these important, missing Indigenous perspectives to decision-making tables.
OUR APPROACH.
By networking Indigenous communities, and partnering with animal service partners like animal rescue groups, animal shelter providers, dog trainers, veterinary teams, etc., we can improve access to essential services and the wellbeing of animals (dogs, cats and even wild animals around our communities) as well as the health and safety of children, adults and elders.
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At the core of our approach is love. Love in action for animals, each other and the places we live.
As a network, we can also efficiently share our experiences and perspectives where they are needed, such as at government tables in Victoria and Ottawa, to shift the longstanding, insufficient status quo and reroute resources in an equitable manner.
OUR MISSION.
OUR SERVICE PARTNERS.
OUR INVITATION TO BE INCLUDED.
Without the necessary resources, dog and cat populations in rural and remote communities become unhealthy and even dangerous. Our membership of Indigenous communities is influencing how federal and provincial resource allocation decisions are made while developing solutions to help underserved communities access the funding and services they need to keep all of their residents healthy and safe, whether they have two legs or four.
ACCESS is proud to partner with a variety of organizations and individuals who share our commitment to animal wellbeing and community health and safety. Our partner animal service providers include veterinarians, animal shelters, trainers and other organizations that share our vision for healthier, safer communities for everyone.
Do you live in an Indigenous community and want to help your community by helping animals? Or maybe you have a special skill or useful vocation that could be directed to helping Indigenous communities and animals? We want to hear from you! We want to tap into community wisdom. Maybe we can support your efforts in some way.
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Please email us to start the conversation: info@increasedACCESS.org