OUR TEAM:
Liza Arias
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Liza began volunteering with El Faro de los Animales in 2009 while working in medical administration in San Juan. What started as volunteer work quickly became a much larger part of her life, and in 2014 she left her previous career to dedicate herself to El Faro full-time.
As Executive Director, Liza oversees the organization’s daily operations, rescue efforts, shelter medicine and veterinary care, rehabilitation, adoptions, transport partnerships and community programs. Over the years, she has worked hands-on in nearly every aspect of shelter operations and has helped guide thousands of animals from rescue through recovery and, whenever possible, into permanent homes.
More than 17 years after first walking through El Faro’s gate, she remains committed not only to the animals in our care, but to addressing the larger animal welfare challenges facing Puerto Rico.
Her hope for the future is simple: fewer animals abandoned, stronger communities committed to responsible pet ownership, and a Puerto Rico where organizations like El Faro are needed less not more.
EVELYN RIVERA
Animal care specialist
Evelyn began working with El Faro in 2001 as a volunteer; in 2004 she began to work full-time. She was born in New Jersey and lived there until she was five, but moved to Naguabo, PR and grew up amongst the palm trees and crystal-clear waters. She is a vet tech who does health monitoring, administrative work, facilitates adoptions and takes census at El Faro - plus whatever else she can do to help! Her daughter shares her love for animals and frequently helps her medicate, bathe, evaluate and care for El Faro’s dogs. In the future, Evelyn hopes to see El Faro build a low-cost veterinary clinic where the community’s animals can receive appropriate and low-cost health care.
dr. mariela jessie pazos
veterinarian
Dr. Mariela Jessie Pazos was born in Uruguay and came to the United States at the age of eleven. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Kean University in New Jersey and went on to receive her veterinary degree from the University of Florida. Her early career was primarily focused on Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. During this time, Dr. Pazos also began volunteering with El Faro and founded LEASH. Although she always found Emergency Medicine to be extremely rewarding, Shelter Medicine and helping underserved communities and their pets became her focus.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Monica Yoma President
Elena Marisol Morales Vice President
Yolanda Munoz Treasurer
Members at large:
David Brownstein
Tania Isenstein