What has 1,200 legs, lives in several countries, and runs, swims, and bikes to stop animal abuse? It's the 2011 PETA Pack team, a group of committed individuals who were able to wildly surpass their fundraising goal and raise $120,000 for PETA's Investigations & Rescue Fund! On behalf of the PETA Pack, a special thank-you goes out to this year's team sponsor, Nasoya, as well as to all the donors who contributed.

PETA Pack members receive 14 weeks of valuable coaching tips from team leaders to help them meet their running goals, whether they are beginning runners or experienced triathletes. Each member ultimately participates in a race of his or her choice in early autumn. Top fundraisers receive great prizes, in addition to the satisfaction of getting into shape while helping animals.

To join the PETA Pack and make next year's team another resounding success, e-mail PETAPack@peta.org.

Congratulations to the 2011 PETA Pack team!

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

You say it's your birthday? PETA wants to party with you. We have a neat new Web feature that lets you make your own webpage on PETA's site for your birth month. Your friends and family can use it to wish you a happy birthday and give gifts for animals on your behalf. You can ask for spay or neuter surgeries, toys for lonely backyard dogs, days off for working animals—whatever strikes your fancy.

And you can rake in gifts too. This month, the birthday guy or girl who earns the most gifts for animals will win a PETA tote bag filled with a shirt, a travel mug, vegan lip balm, a pin, and a "Peace to All" necklace. 

The contest runs from March 1 through March 31, and the winner will be announced on April 1. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Let's get the party started!

Written by Michelle Sherrow

There are a couple of reasons you might know Jared Padalecki. If you're like Patricia over at peta2, you remember him as Dean on Gilmore Girls and love him as Sam on Supernatural (and if you're really like Patricia, you just might have a little crush on him—just sayin'). You might also remember the anti-fur ad he did for peta2. Jared posed with doggies Harley and Sadie to ask his fans, "If you wouldn't wear your dog, please don't wear any fur."

Well, it looks like Jared's fans have done more than just abstain from fur—they've joined him in the fight against it! The fans at SupportSupernatural.com banded together to raise some serious moolah for PETA in Jared's honor—a hefty $1200, if you can believe it!—which will go a long way to help animals.

Big thanks go out to Lindsay and Heather at SupportSupernatural.com—that's some major organizing and some major fundraising, ladies!

Hmm … inspiring, animal-loving cutie who plays a badass demon-fighter? Maybe Patricia is on to something ….

Written by Amanda Schinke