PETA Names Young Animal Caretakers as Cutest Vegan Kids of 2014

It’s always inspiring to see children take a stance and make personal decisions that respect animals and minimize suffering. Their enthusiasm and hard work remind us of how important it is to care for our planet.

Matthew Erinn, who is seven years old, has been a vegan since he was a baby. Naomi, who is eight years old, went vegan shortly after her first birthday. The two kids’ essays landed them the title of PETA Kids’ Cutest Vegan Kid of 2014.

The contest is a way for PETA to recognize and award children who help animals. The judges choose winners based on the enthusiasm that the child shows for Animal rights, as demonstrated by their submitted responses to entry questions.

“I’m vegan because God put animals on Earth for us to enjoy his beauty,” Erinn wrote in his essay submission.

The seven-year-old lives in Beverly Hills, Fla. and has been vegan since he was a few weeks old. He believes in protecting animals, as he has appointed himself the unofficial caretaker of all the cats and dogs in his neighborhood. He reportedly feeds them, bathes them, takes the dogs for walks, and checks to make sure they’re all healthy. He and his family have rescued and taken in several animals.

Matthew Erin told PETA that his favorite foods include asparagus, blueberries, carrots, broccoli, and peaches, and that he never met a dairy- and egg-free cake, brownie, or ice cream that he didn’t like. His mother, who is also vegan, told Bay News 9 that “as he got older, he started to understand where meat came from and I think, mind over matter, it bothered him. We’re animal lovers, to us, animals weren’t put here for meat.”

The other winner, Naomi, lives in Somerset, Mass. She is the official family label reader and makes sure that no meat, eggs, or dairy products make their way into the household. She also visits and cares for animals at her local animal shelter, even selling lemonade and bracelets as a fundraiser for the shelter. She told PETA that her favorite foods include artichoke hearts in lemon sauce, carrots with hummus, cucumber sandwiches, and dairy- and egg-free cakes and cookies.

Congratulations to Matthew and Naomi, as well as all the other kids out there who help protect animals and spread a positive message about the vegan lifestyle!