Community Matters: Street Homeless Animal Project
Karen Cain, Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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In this episode of Community Matters, we speak with Karen Cain, an Animal and Human Rights activist, homeless advocate, licensed mental health therapist, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project. “SHAP” has provided vital support to the unhoused and their animal companions for over 25 years, offering essential vet services and providing supplies like food, leashes, and blankets to over 150 human-animal families each year.
Karen Cain, Founder and Executive Director of SHAP, is an Animal Rights and Human Rights activist, Homeless Advocate, as well as a licensed mental health therapist, which gives her great tools to work on the Street helping the companion animals of the homeless and ensure they remain together as family. In 1998, Karen started her work in Santa Fe helping the companion animals of our homeless sisters and brothers. She officially founded Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project (SHAP) as a 501(c)(3 ) non-profit in 2009.
In the past, Karen has also worked with several of Santa Fe's homeless shelters such as St. Elizabeth’s and Esperanza Shelter as a therapist and consultant. She currently participates in activities with City of Santa Fe departments regarding homeless needs in the city. Over the years, she has fostered numerous partnerships with veterinary clinics, other nonprofits and businesses that support SHAP’s ongoing work, as well as Animal Control and the Santa Fe Police and Fire Departments.
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About Community Matters
Our monthly radio show invites subject experts and community leaders to talk about the challenges and inequities our region faces and possible solutions that could contribute to its growth. Hosted by Santa Fe Community Foundation staff, Community Matters airs on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM on KSFR (101.1 FM). Listen to past episodes here.
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