Take it from someone who uses the Super Bowl as a bathroom break to get back to the main-event (commercials!): This year, the ads that were shown during the big game made history with their creative alternatives to live animals. Check out our five animal-friendly favorites:

• "Whale of a Tale," Bridgestone: Three friends. One animatronic whale. Millions of happy viewers. Bridgestone also gets extra kudos from us for recently banning the use of endangered animals in all of its commercials!
• "Timothy Richman," Cars.com: The pros of animatronic tiger cub birth: clean, cute, and pain-free. The cons of animatronic tiger cub birth? We can't think of any.
• "Finding Beaver," Monster.com: Leave it to this (CGI) beaver…to play the fiddle? Hoedown, here we come!
• "Squirrel," Honda: Why can't all hoarders be this sleek, adorable, and (faux) furry?
• "Underdog," Doritos: We yelled "Holla!" when this taunted dog flipped the tables and put the shock collar on the man. Payback is simply delicious.

Animatronics have sure come a long way since the Country Bear Jamboree. We need to get Monster.com on the Punxsutawney Phil case stat!

What was your favorite Super Bowl ad?

Written by Logan Scherer

Yesterday, I found my dog Henry's "bucket list." He's a pretty open guy, so he won't mind if I share:

1. Get five minutes alone with Michael Vick (that's on my list too)
2. Play Sandy in a community-theater production of Annie
3. Win the Cutest Mutt Alive contest
4. Catch his tail
5. See his dream of a car built for canines come true

While the first four aren't really possible (Henry's a licker, not a fighter; he's too short to play Sandy; he's ineligible for the contest; and, well, he has a stump for a tail), American Honda Motor Company's new Honda Element Concept has made number five happen.

Honda has long been a leader in animal-friendly design, first earning a PETA Proggy Award back in 2005—and the company haven't stopped innovating since.

The new "pupped-out" ride includes a cushioned mesh canine containment system for the cargo area and the back seat; safety pet restraints; a collapsible ramp; spill-proof water bowl; a fan; fur- and leak- resistant seat covers; a dog-bone–patterned rubber mat; and a special leash and dog tag.

Puts the "wow" in "bow wow," right? Tongues would totally wag if you pulled up to your local dog park in a sweet ride like this! But don't worry if buying Honda's doggie-mobile isn't doable for you right now. Your hounds don't care what kind of hoopty you drive. All they care about is hanging out with you.

Henry (Hearts) Honda

Written by Amy Elizabeth