Thomas Ponce is a young animal rights advocate and a citizen lobbyist form Casselberry, FL. Thomas is the founder of Lobby For Animals, the Coordinator for Fin Free FL, and director of Harley’s Home www.HarleysHome.org. Thomas became a vegetarian at the age of 4 and began writing about animal rights at the age of 5. Soon after, Thomas’s parents realized that his advocacy for animals was not a phase, but a way of life. His thoughts on animal rights not only strengthened, but he garnered support from other activist and eventually his own family, who are now Vegans thanks to Thomas’s influence.
Thomas believes that speaking out against cruelty for all living beings, including environment, is not only a pivotal part of progress, it is a our responsibility. Thomas created Lobby For Animals as a way to teach people about the importance of lobbying for animal rights and to offer tools necessary for success in the political arena. The Lobby For Animals website has training videos that give step by step instructions and tips on how to be an effective lobbyist, contact for government representatives, templates of sample letters, and more. “I feel that it is our responsibility as both citizens and human beings to use our minds, hearts and voices to speak up against the injustices we see in the world,” explains Thomas.
His work has also been featured by The Thinking Vegan, Go Inspire Go, VegNews and a number of local newspapers. Thomas has received awards from The Pollination Project, PETA, his City Commissioners Office and the Farm Animal Rights Movement. Thomas’s work embodies his organizations motto” Don’t dream of Change, Lobby for it.”
