School-aged animal rescuers honored by Legislature.

“You are an example of awareness, empathy, and advocacy for animal welfare for everyone,” House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez told the student animal rescuers.

By THE STAR STAFF

The island House of Representatives honored a group of 34 students from the Montessori Second Unit Pasto School in Aibonito who rescue abandoned animals from the streets with the goal of promoting their future adoption.

“There is much talk about where our youth are, but little is highlighted about the great works and initiatives they carry out,” said House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, who organized the event held late last week. “That is why we wanted to recognize the community work that these 34 students, along with their teachers and other school staff, do to improve the quality of life in Puerto Rico through the Student Promoters of Animal Welfare program.”

“You are an example of awareness, empathy, and advocacy for animal welfare for everyone,” he added, noting that the project began “because of the values of compassion and volunteerism that the students of this school possess, who were dismayed by the large number of stray dogs on the school grounds.”

Reps. Estrella Martínez Soto and Sen. Rafael Santos Ortiz also participated in the ceremony.

The Animal Welfare Promoters group, a program run in conjunction with the Department of Education, is focused on promoting values and giving a second chance at life to abandoned dogs and cats.

Among the students recognized were Rodrigo Arzola, Kamilia Avilés, Andrea Benítez, Valentina Cartagena, Yenuel Colón, Isabela de la Cruz, Alejandro Díaz, Adrián Figueroa, Sebastián Green, Nadyeliz Figueroa, Adrián Hernández, Yediel Hernández, Laslin Luna, Karlianys Luna, David Lussetti, Isis Machado, León Marrero, Zeus Marrero, Glerianys Martínez, Gabriela Mayea, and Bruno and Lucas Meléndez.