GUILDERLAND — Elijah Sharma and Corrina Goutos care about animals and want to stop people’s abuse of them. The pair of Guilderland High School sophomores are co-presidents of Last Chance for Animals GHS.

The group, which was founded last year, has about 30 members, Sharma said, and meets weekly.
"I’ve been raised to be kind and tolerant and respectful," said Sharma. "I’m a vegan," he said, which means he doesn’t eat any meat or animal products like milk or cheese or eggs.
An only child, he said he convinced his parents to become vegetarians, too. "They haven’t taken the next step to vegan yet," he said.
The first accomplishment he named of the club he helped found was getting vegetarian burgers on the menu at the school cafeteria. "They’re served every day now," said Sharma.

The group, which uses the name of a national organization but isn’t governed by it, said Sharma, has circulated petitions for many animal-rights causes.
The group’s slogan is "Improving the lives of animals and people through education, activisim, and involvement."
Members collected 500 signatures on a petition calling for an end to production of foie gras in New York State, said Sharma. "They force-feed birds to make their livers [enlarged]; it’s considered a delicacy," he said. A first petition was sent to Governor George Pataki, who supported the industry in New York, said Sharma. A more recent petition was sent to Governor Eliot Spitzer, he said.

The group sent another petition with 500 signatures to the chief executive officer of J. C. Penney, said Sharma, asking that the department store no longer sell fur items.

In April, the group will launch a campaign to have animals spayed or neutered and in May, the club will host an art show, Arts for the Animals, with proceeds to benefit The Humane society and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
At school, Sharma said, reaction to the group has been mixed. "It’s really divided," he said. "Some people are really supportive. Some people get angry and defensive. A lot of it is a matter of family tradition."
Sharma, who wants to be a "human and animal rights attorney," said his family has been supportive of his activities.