“If you have a pet like a dog or a cat and you love them, then you would love pigs and goats and cows just as much if you got to know them.” –Madison Snow, age 5

“I don’t eat animals because I love animals. And I don’t eat animal byproducts because I’m a vegan!” –Liam Snow, age 4

When we interviewed this month’s Outstanding Animal Friends, boy, were we impressed with everything they had to say! When it comes to farm animals, these life-long vegetarians sure know their stuff. The young activists not only know all about farm animals and how they are treated on factory farms, but they have also decided to do their part by helping animals too.

Since their last visit to Farm Sanctuary, both kids decided to go vegan for good. Not that we were surprised. Madison and Liam were already on our radar when they raised over $900 by participating in Farm Sanctuary’s annual Walk for Farm Animals. For the Walk, Madison and Liam laced up their running shoes and trekked through their city with other animal activists. And to show their support, friends and family sponsored them by offering a donation to Farm Sanctuary in the kid’s names.

To get sponsors, the brother-sister duo scouted the neighborhood every day after school, looking for donations (with mom in tow for safety, of course!). “I’m walking for the farm animals. Would you like to be my sponsor?” the two said when neighbors’ doors swung open. As their mom reported, it was pretty tough to say “no” to a greeting like that, so the kids succeeded in raising lots of money in no time at all.

But they didn’t stop there. Madison and Liam also had another brilliant idea. They decided to use the internet to make their donations grow even more. Each kid had a website set up where friends and family could sponsor them. After just a few weeks, Madison had raised $526 and Liam had raised $412. All of that money went to help the animals at Farm Sanctuary’s California and New York Shelters and teach people about how animals are treated on factory farms. Just imagine how many animals Madison and Liam helped save, just by being a part of the Walk!

But that’s not the first time the Snow kids worked together to help animals. The whole family sponsors Neal, a handsome steer who lives at our California Shelter. As his sponsors, the Snows send a donation every month to help pay for the steer’s food, shelter and veterinary care. As a thank you, the Snows received an adoption certificate with Neal’s photo on it and can visit him almost any time they want!

Madison and Liam do what they can to help other kinds of animals too. On Madison’s fifth birthday, she donated her gift money to a companion animal shelter in her hometown. Her reward was a shirt that said: “Shelter Cats are Cool.” The shirt is now one of Madison’s favorites! In fact, cats are some of Madison’s favorite animals, along with bunnies, cows and goats—three species who live at Farm Sanctuary! Liam’s favorite animals—ducks—are residents of Farm Sanctuary too!

So, with all of their experience helping animals, what advice do Madison and Liam have for other kids who want to help too? “Most kids don’t know where their dinner comes from,” said Madison. “If all the kids in the world ate vegan hotdogs and vegan bologna sandwiches—that would save a lot of animals. Be kind to animals, and don’t eat them!” Wise words from wise kids.

Thank you, Madison and Liam for making farm animals a top priority! You really show the world how it’s done!

Are you an Outstanding Animal Friend? Would you like to nominate a friend or relative? E-mail us and tell us about it! You or your friend may be featured as a future Outstanding Animal Friend!