Perez Hilton, a distinguished veteran of PETA's "Best-Dressed" list, now has a new jewel for his crown—a PETA Proggy Award. His website TeddyHilton.com (named for his canine buddy) covers all things furry, scaly, and feathery, delivered with the same sass and pizzazz that Perez is known for over at PerezHilton.com. "Teddy" talks turkey about amazing animals, animal rights victories, and compassionate celebrities. 

We've been fans of the faux-fur–flaunting phenom for some time. When he learned about the barbaric clubbing of baby seals in Canada, he spoke out for the cause in our "Save the Seals" T-shirt (looking very dashing, we might add).

During Perez's photo shoot, he told us, "Everyone in their own small ways can help make the lives of animals better—on a daily basis." He and Teddy certainly are.

Congrats, Perez and Teddy! And as you would say, We Love U, BB.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

And the winner of PETA's coveted 2010 Company of the Year Proggy Award ("Proggy" is for "progress") is … Daiya Foods Inc., the maker of mouthwatering, melty vegan cheese shreds. Applause, applause!

Daiya nondairy cheese has always been delicious, but now it's also widely available in restaurants and retail stores including Whole Foods. Daiya's popularity grew by leaps and bounds in 2010, proving that people "eat up" great-tasting vegan cheese. Daiya Foods Inc. deserves accolades for creating a gooey, stretchy cheese that pleases people's taste buds but doesn't harm animals.

Well done, Daiya! You can support this award-winning company by using Daiya products in your favorite recipes.

Each year, PETA gives Proggy Awards to innovative, animal-friendly companies, people, and products. With all the great vegan food, groundbreaking animal testing alternatives, progressive retailers, and animal-friendly gaming that these awards recognize, it's obvious that the welfare of animals is on just about everyone's mind.

Written by Heather Moore

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What's the motto of Dallas, Texas—America's unofficial big hair capital? "Live Large. Think Big." Dallas property whiz Ari Nessel makes that motto his maxim. He encourages residents to "live large" at swanky apartments refurbished by his company, Nessel Development, and he "thinks big" about animals and the environment when developing new rental properties.

How so?

• Nessel Development welcomes spayed and neutered companion animals with open arms—and features dog parks at its properties.
• Ari makes sure that every new resident receives a copy of PETA's "Vegetarian Starter Kit."
• Staff members at Nessel Development headquarters enjoy free vegan lunches.
• Ari strives to reduce his company's use of energy, water, and materials by renovating properties instead of building new ones and keeping everything as energy-efficient as possible.

For his efforts to promote animal rights and protect the environment, Ari Nessel has earned PETA's "Compassionate Company" Proggy Award.

He joins other caring individuals, companies, and charities—such as U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich, and Payless Shoe Source—that are working to make this world a better place for the people and animals who inhabit it.

Written by Karin Bennett