Young heroic activist Marcelo Hoynowski of Clark, New Jersey, began taking college courses at age seven. This photograph is from 2007, at age fourteen, with one of his two chihuahuas, Lulu.

That's the year Marcello received the International Action Award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, for his activism against the slaughter of seals in Canada.

When interviewed about his honor, Marcelo was shy and reserved. But when he talked about his dogs, he got very animated. "Lulu is buff! She thinks she's big. She loves to be held and loves to run. Patches is different. He doesn't run. He likes to be scratched, but he struggles if you pick him up." And to demonstrate, he snatched up Patches who began to wiggle madly. [November 2007]