T
for the Animals!
Bolt is a superhero canine action star—until he gets lost and discovers just how tough life is for homeless pets. Handy Manny helps a friend gently catch and remove a mouse from her bakery. SpongeBob gives Gary a makeover, but he soon figures out that his pet would much rather be spoiled with love and friendship than with silly wigs and fancy clothes.
What do these three popular characters have in common? They all send good messages about kindness to animals—and they were all nominated for last year's Genesis Awards!
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| Wayne Pacelle, president of The HSUS, poses on the red carpet with Clyde, one of the stars of Marley & Me. |
Acting With Compassion
The Genesis Awards honor TV shows, movies, and the news for shining a spotlight on animal protection issues. Packed with animal-loving stars (who gladly share the red carpet with some of our famous four-legged friends), this Hollywood awards show has become a major force for celebrating animals in the media.
Gretchen Wyler, a Broadway actress and lifelong animal advocate, started the Genesis Awards in 1986. She believed that rewarding members of the media encourages them to spotlight animal issues. This makes the public more aware of animals—and more likely to care about and help them.
Movies like Disney's Bolt, winner of the Feature Film category, do just that. They teach us about some of the problems facing animals and show us how we can make a difference. The same goes for the "Manny's Mouse Trap" episode of Disney Channel's Handy Manny, which won the Children's Programming honor. The "Grooming Gary" episode of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants was a close second. (You can watch the "Grooming Gary" episode here!)
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| Ellen DeGeneres (above) and Hayden Panettiere (below) proudly accept the Wyler Award. |
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And the Award Goes To...
Many other Genesis Award categories recognize TV shows, newscasts, films, newspapers, and magazines for their coverage of animal issues. One of the biggest awards of the night is the one named for the event's founder. The Wyler Award honors a celebrity who has put animals in the news.
In 2007, Sir Paul McCartney received the first Wyler Award for his longtime dedication to helping animals. Actress Hayden Panettiere earned it in 2008 for being a hero for dolphins and whales, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres received it in 2009 for speaking up for farm animals.
More than ever, the media is placing animals in the public eye. The Genesis Awards aims to keep it that way!
