The way we interact with animals can significantly affect their welfare. These interactions are also heavily influenced by human factors such as gender, race, disability, sexuality, and class. 

In this paper, researchers from Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) explain how factors like race, ethnicity, class, ability, and gender impact the relationship between humans and animals. They argue that a better understanding of the needs of marginalized communities can help form more effective solutions to animal welfare problems. Their insights are geared toward researchers, but animal advocates can learn a lot from this perspective.

Disability Justice

The researchers argue that true accessibility means accounting for the lived experiences of people who are physically and intellectually disabled. This includes the experiences of people who have assistance animals. For example, they highlight the ongoing struggle for emotional support animals to be viewed as “legitimate,” despite the disabled community advocating for favorable policies and societal acceptance. The authors argue that assistance animal guardians should be actively involved in making policies that affect their well-being and their animals’ welfare.

Environmental Justice

The authors go on to describe how environmental justice intersects with other issues, such as race and class inequities. Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) are more likely to live near environmentally toxic sites (like landfills or chemical factories), leading to major health issues. In turn, their companion animals may also suffer from the pollution. Another example is food deserts, where economically disadvantaged people live in areas without access to affordable, fresh food. Without adequate shopping options, they may also struggle to obtain food for their companion animals. 

For scholars interested in this topic, the authors believe environmental justice studies can be improved through the academic field of critical environmental justice This field uses cross-disciplinary research to identify patterns of environmental injustice concerning both human and nonhuman animals. In addition, it can teach us how to better engage BIPOC communities in environmental justice promotion.

Gender And Sexuality Justice

The authors believe that future human-animal bond research should explore the LGBTQ+ community, as previous research has already identified issues affecting this population and their animals. For example, transgender, non-binary, and older sexual minorities who experience social stigma have been shown to value the acceptance of companion animals. 

Research also suggests that sexual and gender minorities face a greater risk of poor physical health and depression later in life compared to the general population. Companion animals may be affected when their guardians experience health declines. In this way, human-animal bond research could improve the lives of both LGBTQ+ guardians and their animals. 

Racial Justice

Tackling racial injustice means recognizing different forms of racism and the experiences of racially marginalized individuals. It also involves understanding how racial trauma may negatively impact an individual and their community, from increased aggression to alcohol and drug abuse. 

A study by CARE found that there is a negative attitude towards racially diverse animal guardians (especially poor, Black guardians) in the animal welfare sector. The study also found that animal welfare is mostly white-run, which indicates that current animal welfare services may not be inclusive and welcoming to BIPOC communities. (Editor’s note: Encompass Movement also published a report about racial equity within farmed animal advocacy that may be of interest.)

The authors call for the current, white-dominated perspective of animal welfare to be rejected. Instead, advocates need to recognize the unique differences among BIPOC and to support humans and animals in a way that respects people’s unique ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Improving Human-Animal Studies

The authors encourage researchers to increase their participant diversity, and to ensure racial minorities aren’t grouped together as one (e.g., “white” or “non-white”). Methodologies like participatory action research, which view marginalized communities as participants instead of subjects and encourage their direct involvement in studies that impact them, may support a social justice perspective.

Because animal welfare problems can be impacted by race, gender, sexuality, ability, and other social justice issues, animal advocates need to make sure they’re actively involving marginalized communities in their efforts. Our goal should be to improve the lives of humans and animals together.