The More Than a Pet campaign raises awareness of and support for expanding access to pet care and essential resources in underserved communities. Millions of pet owners face barriers to pet care—transportation, language, time, finances, and trust. This is a national crisis, rooted in broader issues of poverty and inequality. Just as everyone deserves access to health care, food, and housing, they also deserve the chance to care for and keep their pets.
Through programs like Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services, Humane World for Animals has provided no-cost veterinary care to over 600,000 pets, distributed more than $120 million in pet food supplies and given out over $22 million in access to care grants.
What is the More Than a Pet Community Hero Award?
From the heroes nominated, the More Than a Pet campaign will choose three finalists for exceptional contributions to advancing equity in access to pet care and resources within their communities. A public vote will then decide from the three finalists who will be named the 2027 More Than a Pet Community Hero and determine which community will receive a $10,000 grant to provide essential support services for people and pets.
Why this award matters
For millions of families, pets are emotional support, stability, and love. But far too many face barriers to accessing pet care, housing, and other resources. Community heroes are working to close that gap. By recognizing and uplifting their work, the More Than a Pet Community Hero Award:
- Shines a national spotlight on everyday heroes who are strengthening communities who face barriers to access to pet care
- Inspires others to take action and make a positive impact in their own communities
- Supports community-driven approaches to increasing access to care in underserved communities
Nominate a hero
Who we are looking for
Is there a hero in your community who goes above and beyond for people and their pets? This award recognizes community ambassadors—people from underserved areas—for their outstanding service in increasing equity in access to pet care and resources.
Humane World for Animals is accepting nominations for the 2027 More Than a Pet Community Hero Award.
Eligibility
Current Pets for Life, Rural Area Veterinary Services or other Access to Care program partners and current Humane World for Animals shelter and rescue partners may each submit one (1) nomination. The deadline for nominations is November 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. No nominations will be accepted after this deadline.
Nominees for the More Than a Pet Community Hero Award must be 18 years of age or older and legal residents of the United States of America and its territories. Staff of Humane World for Animals and its affiliates and our partner staff are not eligible. Prior nominees that were selected as finalists are not eligible. Individuals nominated must be willing to share the story of their dedication to supporting people and pets in their community with Humane World for Animals, our More Than a Pet partners and our collective audiences. Nominating organizations and honorees may be contacted by Humane World for Animals for more information during the selection process and will be asked to participate in photos, video and interviews if chosen as an honoree.
Nominees should be individuals who live in underserved areas and are meaningfully connected to and of service to their communities. This award is intended to recognize community members whose lived experience, trusted relationships and ongoing presence within their community help advance equitable access to pet resources—not individuals from outside the communities being served, employed by animal welfare organizations or supporting traditional animal shelter intake and rehoming operations.
Selection
Following the conclusion of the nomination period, three (3) honorees will be selected from among the eligible nominees by a panel of Humane World for Animals staff. Honorees will be chosen based on the following criteria:
- From an underserved area/community
- Unparalleled commitment to community support
- Degree of positive impact on their community, people and pets
- Demonstrated commitment to pet equity and improving access to care
Award
Each of the three honorees will receive a $5,000 cash prize in recognition of their work to support access to care. The nominating organizations for each honoree will receive a $5,000 grant from Humane World for Animals to advance its access to pet care work.
Each honoree, along with their nominating organization, will be required to attend Animal Care Expo in Grapevine, Texas, May 6-9, 2027, where they will be recognized at an Expo session. Each honoree’s travel expenses will be covered by Humane World for Animals.
Honorees will be required to complete a publicity release, a W-9 and other documentation to receive their prize. Grant recipients will be required to sign a grant agreement before receiving grant funds.
To nominate a Community Hero, please complete and submit the nomination form.
Submission deadline: November 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
If you have questions about the qualifications, please reach out to your contact with PFL, RAVS or the Shelter and Rescue Partner program or reference the additional resources below. If you have difficulty completing the nomination form, please contact us at corprelations@humaneworld.org.
More Than a Pet Community Hero awardees
2026 | Chantal Wadsworth—Partnership With Native Americans
Vernan Kee
Chantal, of Shiprock, New Mexico, is dedicated to ensuring that families can get the veterinary care they need for their pets by providing financial support, coordinating appointments and personally transporting animals to appointments.
"I do want to give back to my community and my people, and anytime that we can be there and help dogs and cats, we want to be those boots-on-the-ground people that come and help."—Chantal Wadsworth
2025 | Demonte Moore—Wisconsin Humane Society
Lisa Michel-Weis/Wisconsin Humane Society
Thirteen years ago, Demonte Moore saw a Pets for Life flyer in his neighborhood and quickly chased down the team to introduce his 2-year-old pit terrier mix, Piper, who needed low-cost spay surgery. Since then, Moore volunteers by consistently letting people know about Pets for Life events. During COVID, Moore helped Pets for Life distribute pet food and supplies.
“Where I come from, it’s not guaranteed that people help you. I just prefer to help because I’m an animal person.”—Demonte Moore
2024 | Julie Cassadore—Desert Cross Veterinary Hospital
Carolina Palancade/The HSUS
In her rural community, Julie spends three to five days per week transporting animals, driving up to 90 minutes each way from the San Carlos Apache Tribe to the veterinary clinic. A true lifeline for her community and valued volunteer for Rural Area Veterinary Services, Julie triages emergency cases, helps distribute pet food donations and supports the human-animal bond any way she can.
“It doesn’t take a lot to help an animal; it’s as simple as making water available or buying a bag of pet food. Animals are sacred, and we need to take care of them.”—Julie Cassadore
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Additional resources
We launched the More Than a Pet campaign to raise awareness and support of expanding access to affordable veterinary care, pet food and pet-inclusive housing.
The deep connection between people and pets is universal, but access to animal care resources is not. Humane World for Animals works to keep pets happy and healthy, and in their homes.
Our Shelter and Rescue Partner program is a network of organizations committed to serving as a safety net for pets and mentors for overwhelmed shelters.