ABOUT US
Action For Animals (AFA) is a grassroots outreach and educational organization in southeast Michigan. We offer educational information on college campuses regarding animal agriculture and plant-based solutions, in addition to hosting animal rights street activism events, and providing support for our local animal protection communities.
Brece Clark
President
I grew up on a farm, where I spent the first 26 years of my life professionally training horses. I have a deep understanding of animals and their inner worlds, having dedicated my career to comprehending and shaping their experiences.
Ironically, one of the traits I've always disliked in humanity is selfishness. Yet it wasn't until 2015 when I met a horse named Legend that I came face to face with this trait in myself.
Legend was a training horse of mine, and my task was to help him feel comfortable riding alone. Despite six months of giving him the best experiences I could, he still despised riding alone, likely due to past traumatic experiences with other trainers. One day, frustrated by Legend's lack of progress, I resorted to overt violence—a regrettable but not uncommon practice in the world of horse training.
This incident was a turning point for me. This time in my moment of fury striking and drawing blood on this poor horse, I had a massive epiphany. I said to myself, "What in the world am I doing? I'm not a violent person. I love animals! Why do I think my interest in riding this horse alone on the trail is more important than his preference for being home among his heard mates? Am I really that important? Is this even necessary?"
I couldn't honestly justify my actions. And so, since Legend, I've made significant changes in my life, including giving up riding horses, abstaining from animal products, and ditching leather. Initially hesitant, I eventually embraced the identity of a vegan as I learned more about the impact of my choices and just how indoctrinated we all are to accept animal abuse.
Today, I'm still on a quest for truth and peace in our relationship with nonhuman animals. And while my past actions still weigh on my conscience, they also fuel my deep determination for advocacy. I hope my story will help others see that anyone can change for a cause they believe in.
Chase DeBack
Vice President
In my early years, I always had a compassion for animals, as I would often talk about my dream of running an "Animal Care Camp" where I would rehabilitate wild animals and set them free back to the wild. I would champion the title of an "animal lover" and would find a great enjoyment in seeing animals happy. Growing into a photographer, some of my favorite subjects were animals, wild and domesticated. It wasn't until I was 23 that I realized my lifestyle habits were causing more animals pain and suffering than I ever could have imagined. After being shown what truly happens to the animals that we look at as "food", I couldn't bring myself to pay for such atrocities to happen to beings I claimed to love. I had to start aligning my morals to my actions. If I didn't want the animals I photographed to go through such a horrid system, I shouldn't pay for different animals to experience it. After doing this, my appreciation for all life grew, and my will to start becoming an activist grew with it. Speaking up for those who do not have the ability to say something for themselves, and I wish it happened 23 years earlier.