A passion for animal activism

BY WILLIAM HARDIE, STAFF WRITER

BORN FROM THE PASSION OF two animal activists, the Animal Welfare Project has been founded at Gables by juniors Samira Martinez and Kayleigh Mellgren.

Animal welfare, an animal’s physical and mental state, especially when involving care from humans, has steadily declined in recent years. With the increase of human consumerism and involvement, over 110 million animals have been killed in U.S. laboratories, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Thus, education on animal welfare is regarded as beneficial by the National Humane Education Society, noting that an increase in awareness can positively affect the rates of animal overpopulation and cruelty.

Both Martinez and Mellgren strongly believe in animal protection initiatives; as pet owners themselves, both hold the well-being of their animals as a top priority.

“Animals are constantly suffering due to their coexistence with humans,” Martinez said. “I feel enhancing the welfare standards will improve the well-being of these animals and spread awareness to the harsh conditions they endure in factory farms, laboratories, et cetera.”

According to the Humane Society International, testing or procedures done on live animals for improvement of human life can lead to physical pain, psychological distress and even fatality. Being forced to ingest chemicals, purposefully exposed to stressful environments and introduced to drugs make up a short list of what the animals have to endure, according to the HSI.

Martinez and Mellgren believe that learning about how animals are abused around the world and taking steps to be part of the solution can assist in the improvement of these animals’ quality of life.

“Animals can feel the mistreatment done to them but are unable to express it in a way human beings can understand,” junior and pet owner Alice Hernandez said.

A major goal of the Animal Welfare Project is to garner as much involvement from Gables students and staff as possible. Through the initiative, students can become educated on how to support the decline of animal mistreatment. Mellgren and Martinez plan on creating fundraising and outreach events to inspire a sense of compassion, justice and respect for all living things in their audience.

“I believe that the more you educate yourself about something, the more you learn to be empathic towards it,” Mellgren said. “Learning more about how important animals are will hopefully help students at Gables treat them with more respect.”

Martinez and Mellgren are working in collaboration with the Gables Wellness Club to promote their project, as they believe in its passion for the environment. The former club and current branch of Gables Wellness, Gables Earth, seeks to educate its members on the importance of environmental protection and advocacy, making it apt for this up-and-coming project. All three initiatives share a common goal: to educate the students in the hopes of creating change. This is what ultimately led the founders of the project to seek collaboration with Gables Wellness.

“I believe that their passion for the environment and the wellness of physical and mental health will work hand in hand with our passion for the well-being of animals,” Martinez said.

One of the pair’s long-term goals is to help students understand what they can do to contribute. Fundraisers are one of the ways that the two want to help, with the money being raised to help sources better equipped to the cause. A resource of both Mellgren’s and Martinez’s that they often use is Hope For Paws. The pair and their families have been loyal donors of this organization for years. They believe that it can assist animals in their area, along with helping locals become educated on how to support a positive incline in animal welfare.

By donating to these sources and bringing awareness to Gables, animal welfare can continue to improve through the project for years to come.