Who is Nakia G.? Before she was a social worker, or an animal welfare activist and rescuer, she was simply a human who had struggled alone for way too long. In response to those experiences, Nakia has been on a mission to ensure that others – dogs and humans alike – don’t endure the same hardships.

For the last decade, Nakia has served as a criminal defense social worker, ensuring that some of the most marginalized and oppressed populations in NYC are met with compassion and defended with equity in mind. In her downtime, she has volunteered with a plethora of animal rescues in a variety of capacities including dog foster, mitigation specialist and most recently Director of Adoptions at a local NYC non-profit called Every Last One Rescue, whose mission is to save as many city born dogs from euthanasia as possible. 

Nakia’s main takeaway from working in tandem with the New York City Animal Control Centers is that New Yorkers, no matter their backgrounds, are in need of supportive care for their dogs. Whether it be that dog owners are returning to work and don’t have the time or are in financial hardship and lacking the resources – there is a need to bridge the gap between dog care and dog ownership – the reason why Co-Care for Canine’s was born.

Owning a dog is not only a privilege, it is a healing, emotional experience where, no matter the circumstance, unconditional love will exist. No pet owner should feel forced to surrender or rehome their animal due to extenuating factors. Nakia’s goal is to create a community where dog owners can support one another when life gets hectic while simultaneously reinforcing how delicate and special the owner - dog relationship truly is.