Help Support Laguna Beach's Infamous Goat Tender

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna's fire goats are the stuff of legend, a sustainable practice that enables the hills to be fire safe. But there is one who keeps the goats, and he is in need of community support. Laguna Beach resident Kim Duensing has been raising funds for Agotilio Moreno, who has cared for the goats of Laguna Beach for over 20 years.

"Agotilio has basic veterinary training and a specialized visa that allows him to work far from his native Peru helping reduce fire risk on our hillsides," Duensing said. His wife and three children remain in Peru, and he supports by sending home nearly his entire modest salary.

"Working here he is only able to go home once every two to three years," Duensing said. "The sacrifices Agotilio and his wife Alejandrina have made all of these years have enabled them to educate their twin daughters."

Both girls are studying to be engineers and are two years away from completing university.

"They will be the first in their family to graduate from college, high-school, or elementary school," she said. Duensing began the GoFundMe page because Agotilio's wife has breast cancer and he is not able to fund her care in Peru.

"The hospital where she can receive treatment is in Lima, a 14-hour bus ride away," Duensing said. "Once in Lima she must stay in a hotel during her treatment as they cannot afford the hospital stay. My husband is a local physician and recently able to obtain the medical report from the hospital in Lima. Alejandrina has stage 3 breast cancer and her need for medical care is dire. We're asking for your help to fund her treatment, and his daughters’ education, which would allow him to take an extended leave of absence from his job here to assist in the care giving."

According to Duensing, Agotilio will return to Peru once his work visa is extended.

"There is not a kinder, more humble or harder working person," she said.

Laguna is a wonderful place and we hope you'll see your way clear to making a donation of any amount to assist this man who has spent twenty years helping protect us.

All donations made onthe gofundme site are directly transferred into Agotilio's bank account. To date, Laguna Beach has raised over $25,000 in honor of their favorite goat tender, and the page remains active.

Read also:

Fire Goats Return: The Hills Are Alive In Laguna Beach

Watch Fire Goats At Work In Laguna Beach

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Image, courtesy GoFundMe