Who We Are

Christine Driscoll - Founder of Amigos de los Animales
Christine is a veteran animal rescuer with more than 21 years of rescuing animals under her belt. Having majored in Spanish at school, it wasn't any wonder that Christine naturally gravitated toward Spanish speaking countries after her graduation. Christine lived in Costa Rica for two years, and then went on to live in Mexico. Mexico is where Christine's rescue career began. While in Mexico she took in stray dogs and re-homed them in the community. After 9 years in Mexico, Christine followed her good friend to Puerto Rico where her friend was opening a language school. Christine immediately began rescuing animals in Puerto Rico upon her arrival. It was impossible for her not to. She would then spend the next 12 years acting as a voice for the abused and abandoned animals of Puerto Rico, formally founding Amigos de los Animales, Inc., in 2005. Christine has been fundamental in seeing cruelty cases through to helping facilitate big rescue projects...In June of 2007 Christine moved to Orlando, FL, with her husband Carlos and their two "girls" (aka rescued Puerto Rican dogs) Ally and Paloma. Her generous and humorous spirit is sorely missed in the rescue-trenches of Puerto Rico. Christine is still the acting Amigos de los Animales President.
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Nydia Brondo
Nydia Brondo met Amigos' Founder Christine Driscoll through their shared love of rescue, and through the Isla Verde Veterinary Clinic where Nydia worked as a Veterinarian's Assistant. Nydia joined Chris Driscoll as Chris formed Amigos de los Animales, and Nydia has since gone on to open her own boarding, grooming and pet-taxi business. Nydia is a New York certified pet groomer, and also works with dogs on sociability. Nydia continues her rescue work in the San Juan area, is our superstar fundraising event coordinator and is also a cruelty investigator when when necessity demands.
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Adrienne Galler Lastra (Horse Rescue)
was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is living in San Juan. After pursuing her music education in the Continental U.S., she went on to a successful career as a bassist. Adrienne moved back to Puerto Rico in 2002 to care for her mom after her mother suffered a stroke. Shortly thereafter Adri began rescuing horses from a notorious housing project called "Llorens Torres" managing to clear the housing project of more than 40 horses. Horses are often used as drug tender among traffickers. In 2006, Adri also managed to win the first horse abuse case ever in Puerto Rican history. Adri is able to rescue horses with the help of an organization named ARF in Rincon, Puerto Rico. When not answering frantic horse rescue calls, Adri rescues anyone else in need of rescue - from dogs, to cats, to people...
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~ check out Adri's rescue weblog ~

Elizabeth Kracht
began formally rescuing animals when she moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2005. Elizabeth initially began seeking out contacts of those who might be able to help should she run across a stray in need. When she moved to the Ocean Park area of San Juan, her first projects were facilitating the rescue and rehoming of a pack of 10 dogs on the beach, and the same for a colony of feral cats living and reproducing at alarming rates just next door. Elizabeth has rehabilitated and rehomed numerous cats and kittens. Most recently Elizabeth began facilitating the rescue of dogs from "Dead Dog Beach" after receiving a desperate email from Steve McGarva who had been feeding over 90 dogs at the beach, and was witnessing unimaginable cruelty meted out on them. Since the project's inception, more than 160 dogs have been taken from the beach - 90% having been rehomed. Elizabeth also does administrative work and works with other organizations to try and facilitate as many rescues as possible.
Email Elizabeth
~ check out Elizabeth's rescue weblog ~

Rosina Fabbo-Barrasso
Italian born Rosina stumbled upon the plight of dogs in Puerto Rico when she donated her cat Misha's belongings (who had passed away) to a local shelter in Boston that acts as a pet-partnership for rescue organizations in Puerto Rico. Rosina remembered that she had an unused airline voucher that was about to expire and worked with the shelter to make arrangements to come to Puerto Rico and volunteer her time to help with rescue efforts. While in Puerto Rico, Rosina met most of the Amigos members and was able to later take a tour of "Dead Dog Beach" with Steve. Rosina adopted a dog off the beach with the help of the rescuers she was staying with, and has continued to be a resource and support for the dogs at the beach. Rosina was recently back to Puerto Rico for vacation, and took 3 dogs with her to foster and find homes for. Amigos is grateful to Rosina for her continued support of Puerto Rican dogs.
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Shanti A. Santulli
Shanti moved to Puerto Rico from San Diego, CA in July of 2007 when her husband needed to relocate for work. Her entire life has been surrounded by animals, from having a plethora of household pets of varied species, to working at a no-kill animal shelter in Chicago, IL for two years. Shanti was fortunate to meet Melodie Rios and Elizabeth Kracht of ADLA and returned to investing time in animals. Her first visit to Ceiba's "Los Machos Beach" alerted her to the urgency of the stray and abandoned animal problem in that area. One week later, she and husband Colin took home two Los Machos Beach satos (abandoned/stray dogs, mixed or purebred) to foster and rehome. Now, Shanti and Colin are planning to be perpetual sato foster parents in hopes that a majority of the dogs at Los Machos will have forever homes soon. Shanti is also networking with stateside animal shelters to spread awareness of the animal welfare situation at Los Machos Beach in hopes of establishing pet-partnerships to help rehome the rescued dogs.
Email Shanti
~ check out Shanti's rescue weblog ~

Jason Hoffman
Jason Hoffman, founder of Critter Encounters, began rescuing reptiles in early 2000 in Los Angeles after receiving a call from a desperate family in need of help with their iguana. Once he opened the "critter" door, he was soon rescuing a Colombian boa, a tegu, and Burmese python, among others, his house quickly resembling the LA Zoo. Jason went on to find all his reptilian (and mammalian) rescues good homes, having placed 1200 to date. After a chance meeting with Paul Gentles from Wildlife Logic on a rattlesnake rescue, Jason relocated Critter Encounters to the Orlando area to provide a sanctuary for critters unable to be returned back to the wild. Since opening sanctuary doors in Orlando, he has performed wildlife shows for over 450,000 people, wrangled reptiles for 8 movies, been on 12 television programs and even assisted on a photo shoot with Cindy Margolis. Jason's goal is to spark passion for wildlife so that there can be an overall stronger commitment toward conservation. Contact Jason for help in Orlando and the surrounding area with wildlife, or to request him for help on your wild movie set. Amigos Founder Christine Driscoll is thrilled to be partnering with Jason in Orlando.
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