A Helping Hand

ONE WOMAN IN OUR midst who has dedicated her life to advancing greatness and progress is Friends of Miami Animals (FOMA) Founder and President Yolanda Berkowitz.

“I actually stumbled into animal welfare after nearly 20 years advocating for kids in foster care,” Berkowitz tells AQUA Pinecrest. “I’ve always loved animals, but for a long time, I was more of an advocate from the sidelines. It wasn’t until I saw how many of the same systemic failures affecting kids—such as lack of resources, policy gaps, and reactive systems—also

trap animals in cycles of neglect and crisis, that I realized I had to step in and actively be part of the solution. When I left child welfare, I thought I could apply some of that experience—building support systems, advocating for the vulnerable—to help animals, too.”

To that end, Berkowitz established Friends of Miami Animals Foundation in 2016 to “build effective programs, establish meaningful collaborations, and engage leaders and the community to save and improve the lives of homeless pets.”

“The biggest challenge isn’t a lack of love for animals; it’s a lack of infrastructure to support that love,” Berkowitz says. “We need to make it easier for people to be good pet owners—through affordable vet care, pet-inclusive housing policies, and stronger protections that reflect the community’s values.”

PUTTING IN THE WORK

FoMA also empowers ordinary everyday Miamians to contribute to animal welfare in their own way and with their own available resources. “If someone can foster or adopt an animal, that’s amazing,” Berkowitz says. “But we understand that’s not possible for everyone. That’s why we created programs like our Virtual Foster Program, so people can advocate for pets in need even if they can’t foster at home or volunteer in our shelters. We also connect volunteers with trusted partners doing meaningful work, giving the community a firsthand look at where the needs are and how they can make a difference.” And then, of course, there are donations, which are the lifeblood of any scrappy nonprofit.

And, while our collective culture has made undeniably incredible strides in compassion and awareness when it comes to our animal companions, much work is left to be done.

“We’re in a moment in which the community wants to do right by animals, but the system isn’t making it easy,” Berkowitz says. “Miami is filled with people who care deeply about their pets and the animals in need, but compassion is being priced out and progress is being stymied by ordinances and laws that don’t protect animals. Veterinary shortages, skyrocketing costs of care, and housing policies that treat pets as luxury items rather than family members are creating an environment where even the most well-meaning pet owners and advocates are struggling to keep up.”

Still, even in the face of all these challenges, Berkowitz remains an optimist: “What keeps me going is the resilience I see every day—in volunteers, fosters, advocates, and even in the pets themselves,” she says. “Miami’s heart is in the right place. Now, we just need our systems to catch up.”

BY SHAWN MACOMBER