Ladies Night at the 23rd Annual Genesis Awards

 

 

It’s no surprise that Oprah Winfrey received the Outstanding Talk Show award from the Humane Society for highlighting the cruelty of puppy mills, dog fighting, and factory farming. Fellow talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres was honored for her efforts in raising awareness of California’s Proposition 2 and the inhumane treatment of factory-farm animals. In accepting her award, DeGeneres said, “People need to understand that animals are thinking, feeling beings who have a right to a free life.”

Heather Mills was also lauded for using her celebrity to campaign against the skinning of dogs and cats in China. The ban has been supported and passed by 27 countries.

 

Not to be outdone, attractive America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker made hearts flutter as he strolled the red carpet, but was all business when it came to ending the Canadian Seal Hunt. “I’ve always been interested in marine biology, and when the Humane Society approached me to take over the Save the Seals Campaign from Sir Paul McCartney, I was very happy to do that,” he said.

Oakland Raiders star Jarrod Cooper was emphatic about animal shelters and volunteering, and expressed deep disappointment with Michael Vick’s involvement with dog fighting, saying he would be the first to whoop Vick’s behind when he got out of jail!

Others honored included Walt Disney Pictures’ Academy Award-nominated Bolt and ABC TV’s Grey’s Anatomy, which picked up the Outstanding Drama Award.
Feasting on the all-vegan dinner were animal-lovers Jennifer Coolidge (Best in Show), Marg Helgenberger (CSI), and Michael Vartan (Alias).
The best-behaved at the event was Clyde, the adorable yellow lab who portrayed Marley in Marley & Me. 

 

Animal activist Heather Mills