In this time of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, many of us understandably feel compelled to be in the streets and so I wanted to offer up these dog protest safety tips:

1. DO NOT bring your dog to protests, rallies or demonstrations. Even if they are peaceful as we have seen repeatedly violence can and may break out. In addition, protests are loud, involve large crowds and are unpredictable which is stressful and frightening to dogs. You don’t want your dog to get injured or separated from you.

2. If you are a service dog handler and not able to safely participate in events without your service dog, please consider other forms of activism instead of protesting in the streets. Even if your dog won’t be worried about large/loud crowds, there is still a very real risk of injury to your dog from the police. Tear gas and pepper spray can wreak havoc on your dog’s nose, eyes, and paws.

3. If you are going to a protest, have a safety plan for your dogs at home. Plan ahead with a friend/family member who will be a support contact, who knows where you are going and if they don’t hear from you will go and get or go and stay with your dog(s). Make sure this person has keys to your home, knows your dogs medication, feeding and other routines etc. in case you are detained, injured, or arrested.

4. Support dog businesses (trainers, collar makers etc.) run and owned by people of color, particularly Black owned businesses. Stop supporting dog businesses that promote ‘blue lives matter’ racist ideologies.

5. Have conversations with your dog training friends and community about the importance of supporting Black Lives Matters.

6. If you have made the decision to not be in the streets for whatever reason, be available to be safety contact/caretaker for the dogs of your friends who are protesting.

This is a moment of great change and potential. Together working in all of our respective communities, I believe we can push for a better, safer and more just world.