Although our society might not be the best showcase of empathy and compassion, I’ve always believed that these are traits we can easily teach. Through my nonprofit, Compassionate Canine Society, I work to create a kinder world for both animals and people.

It started with rescue. After years of fostering dogs, I saw how many were failed not just by humans, but by systems that lacked empathy. Saving one dog at a time was meaningful, but I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to address why neglect and cruelty happen in the first place. That led to the creation of our Empathy for Animals program, which teaches young people and justice-involved individuals to understand and value animals’ emotions (and in the long term, other humans' emotions). We’re now conducting research and partnerships to bring empathy training into schools and court diversion programs.

At our rescue, we focus on the dogs most in need, the overlooked, the ill, and the behavioral cases. Watching them rebuild trust reminds me that change starts small, but the outcomes are huge.

My background in law shaped my belief that compassion and accountability belong together, it doesn't have to be one over the other. Every life we save and every class we teach is a small step toward prevention. Ideally toward a society where fewer animals suffer and fewer people grow up disconnected.