Gilad Werner, 10, isn't big on burgers, chicken, or any other meaty matter. He stopped eating meat three years ago. "I like animals too much," he explains. So much so that he carries ants out of his Tenafly, New Jersey, home before his folks get the chance to harm them.

Gilad has helped so many creatures in need that he can't recall the exact number. He consults his collection of animal books to figure out how best to feed them. "I see what they eat and give them food," says Gilad. He also calls upon some of the knowledge he has acquired at a nature center near his home.

Gilad says he sometimes even manages to save an animal's life. Though he has four guinea pigs, Gilad insists that he loves all beasts great and small. One time he saved a snake from being run over after it had slithered under a car.

"When I find an injured animal, I always want to help out," says Gilad, an aspiring scientist. He knows, though, that the very best way to help is to call a vet or a wildlife rehabilitator.

Gilad's affection for animals is contagious, says his friend Achiea Moisis, 10. Achiea nominated Gilad to be a Hometown Hero, sponsored by Time for Kids and Ford Motor Company. "Gilad's enthusiasm and knowledge persuaded me and some of our friends to take part in events preserving nature and helping the animals," wrote Achiea. "He is a very special person."

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