More than 20 million U.S. pets live with their families in poverty-three times the number of animals who enter shelters each year. Humane World for Animals relies on local community residents who act as ambassadors for our Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services programs to reach these pets and their owners with pet food and veterinary care. Our More Than a Pet Community Hero Award recognizes three of these ambassadors annually for exceptional contributions to advancing equity in access to pet resources. Here are this year's honorees
Courtney Gresik/Humane World for Animals
Maria Teresa Montoya
Wichita Animal Action League, Wichita Kansas
When Maria Teresa Montoya moved to her neighborhood in 2023, met Kylee Wallentine of Pets for Life and got the opportunity to volunteer, she said it was a gift, "for someone to give me a chance like this, to know that I exist." Ever since, Montoya has helped the program distribute pet food and treats, told people how they can get their animals spayed or neutered, translated for Spanish speakers at clinics and built trust between community members and Pets for Life.
"It really helps to have someone like Maria,'' says Wallentine. "Her warm nature helps us bridge that gap." Montoya, 65 and on disability after back and knee surgeries, cares for her four cats plus a Chihuahua puppy she adopted from neighbors. She also feeds 20 community cats and 15 community dogs. She established relationships with residents of a camp for people experiencing homelessness and their animals, handing out food, clothes, toiletries, pet supplies, blankets, hats and gloves.
Twice unhoused, Montoya says she struggled during those periods to keep her three cats. The last of them died while in the care of a friend. "It killed me," she says. "Because that's all I had to come home to.'' Montoya expects to keep volunteering as long as she can still walk and move her hands. "I've been there. If I can give back a little bit, that means a great deal to me."
Lisa Michel-Weis/Wisconsin Humane Society
Demonte Moore
Wisconsin Humane Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Thirteen years ago, when Demonte Moore saw a Pets for Life flyer in his neighborhood, he quickly chased down the team to introduce his 2-year-old dog, Piper, a big pit terrier mix, and to volunteer. He was looking for low-cost spay surgery for Piper. Since then, Moore lets people know about Pets for Life events and attends each one.
Lisa Michel-Weis, senior director of community impact at the Wisconsin Humane Society, says Moore provided a stepping stone into the neighborhood for the program. "Everyone knows Demonte. He's this young guy with a big smile. We didn't have to knock on the door 10 times. People would be calling us, because he gave them our card."
In addition to Piper, Moore now has four more dogs. He walks them two to three at a time and tells people he comes across about Pets for Life. Moore has also found adopters for a dozen dogs and cats. He helped his brother, Nelson, spay and neuter two dogs Nelson found. Mocha and Smoke are now companions for Demonte and Nelson's mom, who is sick at home. During the COVID pandemic, Moore helped Pets for Life distribute pet food and supplies. "Where I come from, it's not guaranteed that people help you. I just prefer to help because I'm an animal person."
Today, Moore says he watches as people he told about Pets for Life talk to others. "It's like an animal community now."
Steve McVeigh/Humane World for Animals
Lersie Feliciano
Miami Veterinary Foundation, Miami, Florida
Lersie Feliciano first encountered Cassie Vazquez, Pets for Life community outreach manager; in 2021, when she attended a free clinic to get vaccinations for her 11-year-old Chihuahua, Lucy. Unspayed, the senior dog had developed mammary tumors. But the idea of getting Lucy, or any dog, spayed was unfamiliar to Feliciano as it is to many people in communities where spay/neuter services have not been available or accessible. Though Pets for Life offered to cover the cost, Feliciano was worried the surgery could be dangerous for Lucy. After conversations with Vazquez, she was reassured. She decided to get Lucy spayed and told others about what she had learned.
Feliciano took her next Chihuahua, Gigi, to be spayed at 7 months to prevent tumors. She's gone on to get all her family's pets spayed and neutered and to encourage others to get veterinary care. "She comes across as a very kind person. She has connected a lot of families to our services," Vazquez says. Feliciano says she simply looks around her neighborhood for animals in need and tells their owners about Pets for Life. "Once they know, they go."
