He may not be old enough to vote, but 13-year-old Ben Byrom of San Diego, California, knows how to get out the vote! He volunteered with the Yes on Prop 2 campaign—and his hard work paid off. On November 4, 2008, Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor on Prop 2, a historic measure that provides farm animals with more room to move. Prop 2 requires that factory farms in California give breeding pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves enough space to stand up, turn around, and extend their limbs. Ben told us why he got involved with the campaign—and how else he speaks up for animals.

10/12/09 UPDATE! With two important animal bills sitting on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk and time running out, Ben quickly stepped up and wrote a letter, on behalf of kids, to the Governor. He explained how it hurts cows to have their tails cut off and how bad it is that breeding dogs in puppy mills will never live in a home, but in a barren cage. Read Ben's letter here!

What inspired you to get involved in the Yes on Prop 2 campaign?

Ben with Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President and CEO, at a Prop 2 victory party.

What did you do to help?

I volunteered in the APRL office putting address stickers on new volunteer packets to be mailed. I helped my mom gather signatures to put Prop 2 on the ballot. I worked several booths at festivals and events around San Diego, such as the Earth Day Festival and Octoberfest, talking to people, passing out flyers, etc. I talked to many people that I know and asked them to vote Yes on Prop 2, and I talked to a lot of people I didn't know and asked them to vote Yes on Prop 2! Sometimes this involved educating people who simply believed the ads that the opposition put on television. I spoke about it in my Social Studies class when we were talking about the election. I also put a Yes on Prop 2 sign in my yard and my mom put a Yes on Prop 2 bumper sticker on our car.

How did you feel when you found out it passed?

Gloriously happy! I was so excited I almost cried!

How else are you involved in helping animals?

I also volunteer to protect the colony of harbor seals in Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla, California. The City of San Diego wants to dredge the beach where they live because the beach is supposedly meant "for the children, not seals." This situation is really upsetting to me because this area is a rookery, where the seals go to have their babies. I have e-mailed many politicians about the seals, such as San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, every member of the San Diego City Council, San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre, and California State Senator Christine Kehoe. I love to rescue animals in need. If I see a dying bee, I pour a few drops of honey in front of it, and it drinks the honey and flies away. If I come across stray or injured animals, I always feel as though I should help. Also, I am a vegetarian.

What animal issues concern you the most?

Factory farming breaks my heart. And negligent pet owners (like what you see on the TV show Animal Cops) who neglect their animals. People who have horses but don't tend to their wounds or illnesses really upset me.

How do you plan to help animals in the future?

Prop 2 is only the beginning! We are going to continue to change the way America treats its animals. My family is planning a trip to Los Angeles to a ranch called Animal Acres to volunteer by working at the farm and caring for the animals. I will continue working with the Animal Protection & Rescue League and to protect the seals, and I will support any future legislation which will provide for the protection of animals.

What does your family think about your activism? Have you ever faced criticism for it?

My family is very proud of me, but I have faced criticism from others, many times! When I've been talking to people about the seals or Prop 2, lots of them have opposing opinions, and they can be really mean about it. I usually try to be really polite and engage them in a friendly debate when it comes to animal rights.

Do you have any pets you can tell us about?

I have one dog (a Japanese Chin) named Stuart, two cats named Max & Bubbles, and a betta fish named Charlie. We used to have a chicken. She was a Buff Orrington named Becky, and she laid eggs and she liked to walk around our neighborhood or hang out with us on the back porch. She lived with us until she died several years ago from old age. I still miss her!