It's time to help PETA select the "Sexiest Vegan Next Door" for 2013. Unlike that other annual sexy competition, the entrants in this contest aren't stars—although they definitely include some heavenly bodies,showing the world the health advantages of a vegan diet in the flesh.

And what's sexier than someone who not only cares about animals and the environment but also takes action to protect both of them?

So be sure to cast your vote today—and then come back on April 15 to help choose your favorites from the finalists! (And if you want to get ready to take part in the 2014 contest, here's how to go vegan in three simple steps.) 

PETA will consider three factors in selecting finalists and winners: votes, enthusiasm and attractiveness. Read the contest details for more info.

Ever since her red swimsuit days, people have been enamored with PETA's weapon of mass distraction, Pamela Anderson. And now you can have a little piece of the original "Lettuce Lady" for yourself. When Pam and PETA Vice President Dan Mathews spoke to Cambridge University about animal rights, she autographed copies of the Paul McCartney–narrated meat-industry exposé "Glass Walls" for the students. And she autographed a few more to give to lucky PETA Files readers.

To enter to win, simply leave a comment telling us about something Pam-like that you've done to help animals—her résumé is extensive, so there's plenty to choose from. Maybe you've attended a fur demonstration, spoken out against the Canadian seal slaughter, ditched meat, adopted a companion animal, given a speech about animal rights, switched to cruelty-free cosmetics, or acted to get horse-drawn carriages off the dangerous streets. 

Or maybe—like Pam—you've done all of the above. Just tell us about it, and two winners will be selected at random.

And if reading about all of Pam's compassionate actions has inspired you, plenty of animals still need your help, so get out there and get Pamelactive!

The contest will end on March 27, 2013, and we'll contact the winners by March 29, 2013. By commenting here, you're acknowledging that you've read and you agree to our contest terms and conditions and our privacy policy and you're also agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with those policies as well as to receiving e-mails from us.

Chick-fil-A's so-called "Cow Appreciation Day" involved giving chicken flesh to people who dressed up as cows. We think cows (and chickens) deserve better than that, so here's our new and improved Cow Appreciation Day. We're giving away The Compassionate Cook, our back-by-popular-demand, original vegan cookbook, featuring more than 225 recipes in which no cows, chickens, or any other animals were harmed. Just take the quiz below to learn why intelligent, sensitive cows aren't milk machines and then enter for your chance to win:

1. Just like people, cows are known to ________ when a loved one dies or is separated from them. 

2. True or False: Cows' sense of smell is even stronger in some ways than that of most dogs—they can detect scents up to 5 miles away.

3. This picture is of: 

A) a pipe cutter

B) one of the torture devices used in the Saw films

C) a guillotine dehorner, used by dairy farmers to chop off cows' sensitive horns

D) a Halloween haunted house prop

4. In nature, cows may nurse their calves for up to _____ years.

5.  After years of being kept almost constantly, forcibly pregnant and having their beloved babies repeatedly taken away from them so that their milk can be sold instead, when cows' milk production wanes, they are: 

A) put out to pasture on the farm to live out their days

B) retired to a sanctuary

C) feted with cake and alfalfa-flavored ice cream

D) sent to slaughter 

6. True or False: A Holstein's spots are like a fingerprint—no two cows' spots are exactly the same.

7. Guys, get ready to squirm: Male calves who are taken from their mothers are usually _______ without so much as an aspirin.

8. True or False: Like people, cows communicate with each other using different vocal sounds, body positions, and subtle facial expressions.

9. A dairy industry study reports that by the time they are killed, nearly _____ percent of cows are lame because of the intensive confinement to the concrete floors of milking barns, the strain of being kept almost constantly pregnant, and being made to stand ankle-deep in their own dung.

A) 10

B) 20

C) 30

D) 40

10.  True or False: Bovines love a good brain teaser, such as figuring out how to open a gate's latch to let themselves out, and they get so excited that some even kick up their heels when they figure out the solution. 

*****

Check out the answer key below to see how you did, and then repost some of these interesting cow facts to show your friends why it's sour to steal cows' milk.

To enter to win The Compassionate Cook, just leave a comment telling us how you did on the quiz. A winner will be chosen at random. (Your score on the quiz does not affect your chances of winning.)

The contest will end on October 25, 2012, and we'll contact the winner by October 29, 2012. By commenting here, you're acknowledging that you've read and you agree to our contest terms and conditions and our privacy policy and you're also agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with those policies as well as to receiving e-mails from us.

Answers: 1) shed tears 2) True 3) C 4) three 5) D 6) True 7) castrated 8) True 9) D 10) True

How well do you know your animal facts? Test your knowledge with our quiz, and then tell us how you did for a chance to win a PETA lunch bag.

1. Which animals are reportedly the closest living relatives of the Tyrannosaurus rex?
2. Which animals' brains are able to fully repair themselves after they have experienced trauma?
3. Which animals are such great parents that in ancient Rome, it was considered a compliment to be told that you must have been raised by that animal?
4. Which small animals are so brave that they will fight powerful predators such as eagles and foxes to protect their young?
5. Which animals were able to find their way through a maze with a speed comparable to that of dogs?
6. Which animals have more bones in their necks than giraffes do?
7. Which animals can talk to their mothers from inside their eggshells before they have hatched?
8. Which animals' legs can detect vibrations on the ground and in the atmosphere, allowing them to sense when predators are approaching?
9. Like Paul Reveres of the animal kingdom, which animals use different warning calls when predators are approaching by land rather than approaching by air?
10. Which animals can remember the faces and social ranks of more than 100 other animals in their group, even after being separated from them for months before being reunited?

Answers

Did you guess "chickens" for any of the questions? Did you figure out that "chickens" was the answer to all the questions? Chickens are inquisitive, sensitive, highly social animals whose intellect has been compared to dogs, cats, primates, and human children. For National Chicken Month, please share this contest and encourage everyone you know to stop eating chickens. 

To enter to win PETA's "I Am Not a Nugget" lunch bag, leave a comment telling us how you did on the game, and a winner will be chosen at random. (Your score on the game will not affect your chances of winning.)

Good luck!

By commenting here, you’re acknowledging that you’ve read and you agree to our contest terms and conditions and our privacy policy, and you’re also agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with those policies as well as to receiving e-mails from us.

Winter skin. Need I say more? While alligators have qualities that I admire—they're family-oriented and great swimmers—I don't enjoy it when my skin feels like one.

The folks at Brooklyn's Metropolis Soap Company (a fave of Zooey Deschanel) are sending three lucky PETA Files readers the cure for the winter-skin blues: the reader's choice of one of seven superb body scrubs that not only exfoliate the alligator skin but also moisturize with a hint of shea butter.

Every scrub is made from natural ingredients such as real fruit, flowers, sugar, and salt, with no parabens or sulfates. And the best part is that they're all vegan and cruelty-free, so they don't hurt alligators or any other animals.

To enter, just post a comment telling us which of the scentsational scrubs you'd like to have delivered to your door, and three winners will be chosen at random.

In a while, crocodile!

Because of shipping requirements, people living only within the 48 continental United States are eligible to win. Three winners will be chosen at random from the animal-friendly comments that are submitted. The contest will end on March 6, 2012, and we'll contact the winners by March 14, 2012. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

The year 2011 was a great one for animals, and 2012 is bound to be even better. Tell us what you plan to do for animals in the coming year, and you could win a gift basket to help you start the year off right! The basket contains a selection of fabulous health, beauty, and whole-food products—including Bija certified organic teas, Green Beaver hair-care products, olive oils, and nutritional supplements—from PETA Business Friend Flora, Inc.

Not sure how to get active for animals in 2012? Here are some ideas:

• Lose excess pounds and improve your health with a low-fat vegan diet.
• Send a PETA video to 10 of your friends, along with New Year's wishes.
• Politely share what you know with people you see wearing fur coats or carrying crocodile purses.
• Set up change jars or swear jars and donate the proceeds to PETA.
• Pledge to take extra-good care of your dogs and cats and the other dependent little beings in your home.

Let us know in the comments section what you have up your sleeve for the new year, and you'll be entered in the drawing for a chance to win the Flora gift basket.

A winner will be chosen at random from the animal-friendly comments that are submitted. The contest will end on January 13, 2012, and we'll contact the winner by January 31, 2012. Make sure that you read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Good luck!

It's the season for giving, and PETA Business Friend Allison's Gourmet is giving away a $50 gift certificate for delicious vegan treats to one lucky PETA Files reader. Could it be you?

Allison's Gourmet is one of the premier all-vegan online bakeries. Because none of Allison's cookies or confections contains animal products, the treats are 100 percent cholesterol-free and don't contribute to the cruelty to animals found in the dairy and egg industries. And I can tell you from personal experience that these are some of the most delectable desserts that you will ever eat. To enter this contest, simply complete the form below.

Can't wait to get your own box of vegan confections, or want to give one as a gift? Head on over to the Allison's Gourmet website today. And since there's no such thing as giving too many gifts, stock up on all sorts of goodies from the PETA Catalog this holiday season.

Contest entries will be accepted from December 13, 2011, through December 22, 2011. One winner will then be chosen at random from all entrants and presented with a $50 gift certificate to Allison's Gourmet. The winner will be notified by January 15, 2012. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by submitting your entry to this contest. This contest is open only to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

After receiving a ton of endearing, funny, interesting, odd, and clever submissions for our contest asking how you would like to rename "mutts" with a moniker that celebrates rescued dogs' uniqueness and diversity, we've narrowed the list to four terms, and the pollsters are ready to start tallying the votes.

The winning name will be made into a bumper sticker reading, "I ♥ my ____," that will be sold at PETA's CafePress store. But the smarty who submitted the winning term will snag a free sticker, along with a gift basket brimming with goodies for their pedigree-free pup.

Stay tuned to see which name will claim the fame!

Poll closes December 12th and winner will be notified by December 15th.

You might recognize the enthusiastic, charming, and incomparable Tamar Geller from her television appearances on such shows as Oprah, Ellen, and Larry King Live, and now you have the opportunity to see the dog coach to the stars in her very own PETA miniseries. We've teamed up with Tamar to produce a set of six short episodes about how to be your dog's best friend, and we'll release one per week starting today. First up is Episode 1: "Your Dog's 7 Basic Needs."

Tamar's motivation for making this series is to debunk dog-training myths and encourage people to pay more attention to their dogs and to use positive reinforcement, all of which will be covered in future episodes on PETA's "Features" page. Episode 1 covers such issues as how to provide your canine companion with mental and physical stimulation. One tip: Talk to your dog! Dogs can understand up to 150 words, and you can converse with them simply by narrating their actions and praising their behavior.

When you view each episode on PETA's "Features" page, you can also enter to win a yummy prize for your dog. We've teamed up with PETA Business Friend V-dog to give a month's supply of healthy, vegan dog food to one winner each week as Tamar's videos are released. So check the PETA “Features” page every week for the next entertaining and informative installment in the series.

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

The weather is turning cooler, but that doesn't mean our hearts should too. Fall is a great time to make a fashion statement in support of clothes that warm our skin and don't cost animals theirs. One lucky PETA Files reader will snag this autumnal 'No Fur' Burnout Fitted V-Neck T-Shirt, perfect for layering, to take you into cooler weather in style.

To enter, just post a comment about why you won't shroud yourself in dead animals. A winner will be chosen at random.* (Just remember to wear the tee with your pleather shoes because animals used for leather suffer too.) Good luck!

*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments telling us why the commenter wears cruelty-free clothing. The contest ends October 7, 2011, and the winner will be notified October 21, 2011. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. 

Written by Michelle Sherrow