The Sonoma County CHANGE Program was formed in 2007 to support Sonoma County Animal Care and Control in handling equine neglect, abuse and cruelty cases. CHANGE is a federally accredited 501(c)3 corporation with public charity status, as well as a California non-profit corporation. It is supported entirely by private funds and is 100% volunteer operated.

CHANGE provides housing, transportation, veterinary care, training, rehabilitation and adoption services to horses who enter the CHANGE Program via county animal services.

CHANGE also supports the the Sonoma County Animal Care and Control Department by providing free education on several horse related subjects. CHANGE assists the Sonoma County District Attorney's office in prosecuting offenders by providing gratis expert witness testimony as well as raising public awareness of these cases as they make their way through the legal system. During the past three years, CHANGE has served as a subsidiary in several courtroom cases, all of which have resulted in convictions. Some of the cases set new legal precedents and garnered national media attention.

Vision Statement
To improve the acceptable standard of care for horses by being an agency of social change.

Mission Statement
To support local law enforcement as a subsidiary in equine cases through humane education, logistical and financial avenues.

Core Values
   • Transparency
   • Accountability
   • Professionalism
   • Support of law enforcement
   • Education
   • Advocacy for horses
   • Ethical leadership
   • Service to the community through a novel approach

Goals
To be a transformative agency; to reach beyond business as usual
To be a sustainable and secure organization