To all the animal lovers out there, a new club has recently opened up in Cape High. Animal Advocates, founded by Juniors Heidy Nunez and Jennifer Lopez-Garcia, is a service-oriented club that focuses on raising awareness for animals all around the world.
Nunez and Lopez-Garcia decided to create this club because of the deep love and care they hold for animals. “There are so many [animals] in need, not only at our local shelters but everywhere in the world, and I want to make a difference for them,” stated Lopez-Garcia.
Their passion for this is what has led them to realizing that there’s been, “ a couple of species of animals go extinct recently, scientists say hundreds have gone extinct in the past decade alone,” stated Nunez.
The goal of their club is to educate current and future generations on endangered and extinct species in order to be able to make a change in their community. “We all have our own place on this planet and they deserve to live through it too. Besides that we also want to help house pets like dogs, cats, etc., to reach a loving home and life,” stated Nunez.
Club meetings will be held once a month on Fridays for 45 minutes in English Teacher, Avana Harding’s classroom, Room 235. Their interest meeting was held on October 24th, where they discussed the club’s goals and officer roles.
Harding decided to become the sponsor for Animal Advocates because she believes in Nunez and Lopez-Garcia. “When students care enough to stand up for a cause and take responsibility for making a difference, that’s something I’m always down to support.”
Harding mentioned that what she’s most excited for is, “seeing the members take ownership — organizing projects, building teamwork, and finding ways to serve the community. It’s not just about helping animals; it’s about recognizing that we have a responsibility to care for all living things.”
Posters can be found all over the school advertising the club and some general information regarding it. To find out more, they have an Instagram page, @cchsanimaladvocates.
Currently, Nunez and Lopez-Garcia are planning what types of events they would like to execute in their club. Nunez stated, “volunteering at animal shelters, drives for animal shelters, guest speakers, fundraisers for endangered species, information and awareness posters for an endangered species every month, making dog treats and toys, and maybe even field trips,” are some of their ideas.
They’re especially hopeful that they’ll be able to meet some animals through this club. “There are so many adorable dogs and cats there that could use our help and I can’t wait to meet them,” stated Lopez-Garcia.
At the moment this club is just beginning, but Nunez and Lopez-Garcia are excited for its growth. “We want to make this club big before we graduate next year and hopefully in the future make an impact globally,” stated Nunez.
As a result, they hope to see a good turnout for the club and that students are motivated to actively participate in it. They believe that it will only benefit students. Harding stated, “the students are learning what it means to lead with empathy and to take action that benefits both people and the world around them.”
