Great news! After PETA got word that Colombian mobile phone company Comcel planned to raffle off 200 puppies as part of a promotion, we posted an action alert on our website, and you responded in droves. Thanks to you, Comcel and its parent company, América Móvil, have agreed to give debit cards as prizes instead.

Needless to say, randomly distributing puppies is a spectacularly bad idea. Animals who are given as prizes or gifts are often abused or discarded when the novelty wears off. The lucky ones wind up in shelters (as opposed to being abandoned on the streets), where they face euthanasia because of a lack of good homes.

Which reminds me—if you are ready to open your heart and home to an animal companion, always, always, always adopt—never buy. Need more persuasion? Who could possibly resist the importuning of Twilight hunk Kellan Lutz?

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Cancel your afternoon appointments and plan on getting dinner delivered because we're going shopping at Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe, which has offered up this week's "Win It" Wednesday prize—a $25 gift certificate.

After more than two decades of vegan living, I know that it's a cinch to find an animal-friendly version of any edible or wearable item that I can imagine. But browsing through Cosmo's shop, I'm blown away to discover items that I didn't know existed—vegan meatloaf? Get in my belly!

So this week's challenge is to name and link to the unique item or items that you discover at Cosmo's and tell us how you plan to use them. The person who offers up the most amazing discovery and description will win the gift certificate.

The contest ends on August 18, 2010, and we'll select the winners on August 20, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Karin Bennett

Fun in the sun means beach towels and bikinis, but forget your sunscreen and you'll be singing the sunburn blues. But there's no chance of that for the clever person who wins a basket of cruelty-free summer skincare lotions from Kiss My Face:

Want to win it? Just let us know what you are doing to help animals this summer. For my part, every time I visit the beach, I pick up each piece of litter I see so that animals don't end up ensnared like this.

So what about you? Have a go and let us know how you are helping animals in your neighborhood or on your summer vacation. The contest ends on July 28, 2010, and we'll pick the winners on July 30, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Karin Bennett