A cat miraculously survived being trapped in the engine of a car during a 200-mile trip. The cat was discovered when the driver of the car stopped at a rest stop after smelling something burning. With the help of a passing police officer, the driver was able to free the cat, who was wedged in the engine compartment and had suffered burns to his right side.

What do a tweet, a toy, and a Toyota have in common? They can all be used to help animals! Hey, times are tough, and while lots of people may be in the giving spirit at this time of year, their wallets may not be feeling quite so generous. With that in mind, we've thought of some great ways that anyone can give to animals simply by donating time—or an old car!

• Post one animal rights message to your Facebook or Twitter account each week.
• Support PETA's work for animals by donating your car, truck, boat, motorcycle, airplane, or motor home, even if it's not running! Giving through the "Cars for PETA" program is a simple process that will save you the hassle of selling an old vehicle, give you a year-end tax write-off, and, best of all, help animals.
• Give the toys and treats that your animal companions don't like to your local animal shelter. Or make tug toys for the dogs there out of old clothes, and use old blankets to cover small pillows for the cats to sleep on. And, of course, animal shelters always welcome your old towels and blankets.
• Offer to play with a lonely, chained dog in your neighborhood and take him or her for walks.
• Join PETA's Action Team for opportunities to send e-mails, distribute fliers, or join a demonstration.

Happy holidays from PETA!

A PETA member found a fun way for her little car to send a big message in the Big Apple.

New York resident Emily McCoy wants NYC to go v-e-g to save animals and the planet. Switching to a vegan diet is easier than navigating bridge-and-tunnel traffic and more effective in preventing climate change than switching to a hybrid car. So we can have our vegan cake and our classic cars too.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Move over, Smart car: There's an even smarter car in town. Unlike some so-called "green" carmakers that offer leather seats and trim, Wheego Electric Cars will not use a stitch of cow (or any other) hide in any of its models. That's why we go for Wheego, and we're awarding it our Proggy Award for the Best Green Car Company of 2010.

Mariordo / CC by 3.0

Including real leather in a car that's touted as "eco-friendly" is pretty fake (yes, we're talking to you, Smart car). Most leather is chrome-tanned, even though the Environmental Protection Agency classifies chromium as a hazardous waste. Studies have also found that groundwater near tanneries is tainted with everything from arsenic and lead to cyanide and PCBs and that human cancer rates are higher in those areas.

If you want to green your ride this Earth Day, why not give leather-free Wheego a spin?

Written by Paula Moore