Olympian Michael Phelps adopted his new pooch, Stella, and promptly started honing her ability to swim. We're sure Michael already qualifies as a hero to Stella even before the London games!

Paul McCartney has schooled many a musician in rock 'n' roll, and now he wants to school children in going vegetarian. He's encouraging schools to join his "Meat Free Mondays" campaign and offer students vegetarian options at lunch.

Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky and Switched at Birth actor Constance Marie joined Paul's chorus, jumping in with the host of other celebs tweeting for animals this week and promoting "Meat Free Mondays" and the veggie life.

The role of WNBA star Candace Parker in the L.A. Sparks' win last Wednesday earned her a Player of the Week nod, but she plays for animals every week by working with PETA to fight fur. 

Photo: Jason Grow/www.jasongrow.com|Hair and makeup: Lauren Genatossio for Team Artist Representative

With another fur foe, Aimee Teegarden, cast in the starring role, you can bet that the CW Television Network's new show, The Selection, billed as "the next Hunger Games," will be decidedly fur-free.

To keep up with what all your fave stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.

Could be because it’s almost the first day of summer. Nah, it’s definitely PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2011 contest. Voting has begun to help us narrow down the 100 male and female nominees to our top five in each group who make our little veggie-loving hearts skip a beet beat.
 

 
So, which hunk of Bocacake gets your vote? Bill Clinton or a Beatle? Joaquin’s sexy smile or Jared Leto and those baby blues?  Could it be a bi-coastal competition of funny man Russell Brand against easy-on-the-eyes Casey Affleck?

And which veggie vixen will walk away with the top prize? Will it be the battle of the A-team, Aimee and Anne? Or could it all come down to the Kristens – Wiig and Bell? Maybe the inventor of sexy, Pamela Anderson, will stage a coup?
 

Let us know who you think we should name the finalists! This year, for the first time, voting will take place on Twitter using the hash tag #sexyvegceleb, but you can also use the voting page. Let us know who you think we should pick by June 17 and stay tuned for the swoon-worthy finalists. 
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

  
 
You've heard that you can look to the stars for direction, and when it comes to compassion for animals, these stars are illuminating guides:  

• Lifelong vegetarian Aimee Teegarden is sleeping a lot easier under the Friday Night Lights now that she's ditched dairy. 
• Which former Hardee's hawker now says vegetarian eats are "tops"?
• Vegetarian Kristen Bell talks tuna and explains why sushi is a "no-sankyu."
• Glenn Beck might be leaving Fox, but he'll be looking foxy thanks to his new vegan diet.
• After working hard on her new album, Emmylou Harris goes to the dogs.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Scream 4 had audiences gasping and jumping in their seats this weekend. But if the audience had seen PETA's "scream" movie, they would really be terrified. Our undercover video of rabbits as they are killed for their fur shows the animals as they scream while their skin is peeled off their bodies. 
 

 
Scream 4 star and vegetarian Aimee Teegarden spoke out against the cruelty of fur in her ad for PETA.

Please join Aimee in making sure that the only killing you condone is the fake, fun, movie variety, and always run screaming away from fur. 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Any Friday Night Lights fans in the house? Well, even if you’re not, you’ll love this PSA peta2 just released with anti-fur crusader Aimee Teegarden and her dog Gizmo. Way to go Aimee!

You can watch a video of Aimee at the photo shoot and enter to win a T-shirt signed by her here.