Company of the Year

Whole Foods

With hundreds of stores throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Texas-based Whole Foods Market is the world's leading retailer of natural and organic foods. Whole Foods offers an impressive selection of healthy vegetarian foods and the retailer's own "365" brand delivers quality in grocery products as well as cruelty-free personal care and household products at competitive prices.

Even more important, however, is Whole Foods' dedication to animal welfare. The fast-growing chain has consistently done more for animal welfare than any retailer in the industry, requiring that its producers adhere to strict standards. Last year, Whole Foods launched the Animal Compassion Foundation to put animal welfare in the forefront of shoppers' minds. Recently, the company announced that it would "assess and significantly upgrade the supply chain process" that provides live lobsters to its stores, vowing to discontinue lobster sales if more compassionate standards are not implemented by the middle of next year.

Blog of the Year

veganlunchbox.blogspot.com

Kennewick resident and stay-at-home mom Jennifer McCann "Jenniferschmoo" doesn't just make out-of-this-world vegan lunches for her son, she also posts photos and detailed descriptions every day at her popular blog, veganlunchbox.blogspot.com. From tasty tamales to miniature vegan "beef" Wellingtons, this savvy mom whips up fun, creative lunches and makes it easy for parents to provide their tots and teens with healthy, animal-friendly fare.

Best Animal-Friendly Retailer

AlternativeOutfitters.com

This fun site carries everything that the caring (and fashion-conscious) consumer could need, with an extensive inventory of stylish nonleather footwear, handbags, and other accessories—everything from belts, watches, and hair accessories to cell phone pouches and jewelry. Alternative Outfitters also offers a variety of cruelty-free beauty brands, including Avalon Organics, Kiss My Face, Primal Elements, No Miss, Ecco Bella, and Alba Botanica.

"Beauty shouldn't be a pain—not for you or our fine furry friends," quips site founder Jackie Horrick. We couldn't agree more!

Thinking Outside the Box

Honda Motor Company

Honda's recently unveiled concept car has almost as many amenities for the family dog as it does for the driver and other passengers. The W.O.W. concept wagon's special features include:

• Seats that can be transformed into onboard dog kennels
• Wooden flooring that recreates a "terrace environment" to enhance the dog's comfort
• A glove compartment that doubles as a crate for small dogs
• A low, flat floor combined with sliding doors that take the strain out of boarding and exiting for kids, the elderly, and Fido

Honda has proved that it is four paws ahead of the competition by recognizing that our canine companions deserve comfort and convenience too!

North America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant Chain

P.F. Chang's

P.F. Chang's China Bistro is the future of dining in America. The rapidly expanding chain's ambience is hip and upbeat yet relaxing. Twelve tasty vegetarian items are clearly marked on the menu for easy identification, and the restaurant will customize any dish for vegetarians and vegans. Firm, marinated tofu is gladly substituted for meat in any dish—our recommendations are too long to list, so check out the nearest one for yourself!

Strongest Backbone

Pat Buchanan

It's not often that you hear Pat Buchanan's name mentioned in the same sentence as the word "progressive," but this politically conservative pundit has twice made the gutsy decision to place animal rights issues squarely on the cover of his Vienna, Virginia-based magazine American Conservative. Both cover stories focused on works by former George W. Bush speechwriter Matthew Scully, who strongly believes that "compassionate conservatism" must be extended to the billions of animals raised and killed for food. In his book Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (winner of a 2003 Proggy) and his essay "Fear Factories: The Case for Compassionate Conservatism—for Animals," Scully describes the horrors of factory farms and slaughterhouses and asks why, if we are appalled by cruelty to a puppy, we regard with indifference the abuse and mutilation of billions of chickens, cows, and pigs, who are also intelligent, sensitive animals.

Nonfiction Book of the Year

Sheep of Fools

Using lilting verse and haunting illustrations, Sue Coe, with coauthor Judith Brody, tells the story of the millions of sheep exported by sea to North Africa and the Middle East after they've been used up by the Australian wool industry. Her moving images graphically illustrate the grim truth—sheep die by the tens of thousands each year when they are crammed aboard multitiered, open-decked ships for a terrifying sea voyage across thousands of miles, often suffering in temperatures above 100°F. During these agonizing journeys, which can take several weeks, sheep die of starvation caused by stress and confusion; many collapse from heat exhaustion; and many are smothered or trampled by other frightened sheep. At their final destination—usually countries with no animal welfare standards whatsoever—the sheep are dragged from the ships into slaughterhouses and market squares, where their throats are slit, often in front of other sheep, all while completely conscious. Read more about the Australian wool industry.

Best Cruelty-Free Outdoor-Shoe Company

Evolve Sports

These top-quality climbing shoes prove that it's easy to give leather the boot. Evolve manufactures cutting-edge nonleather footwear for both professional and recreational climbers and field-tests its products in some of the most demanding climbing venues in California. Its research and development team, which includes a former professional climber, has also contributed designs to other leading outdoor shoe companies. Evolve's high-tech, state-of-the-art synthetic footwear offers the superior durability and performance that serious climbers demand. All good news for animals, since leather has become a lucrative coproduct of animal slaughter, and according to U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors, many cows are dismembered while they are still conscious and able to feel pain. For more information on leather production, visit CowsAreCool.com.

Best Cruelty-Free Athletic Shoe

PUMA

With 2004 sales over $2 billion, the German-owned company is racing ahead of the competition when it comes to providing high-quality, nonleather athletic shoes in a huge variety of colors and styles for sports from running to soccer. What's wrong with leather? Millions of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats are slaughtered for their skin every year. They are castrated, branded, and dehorned and have their tails docked without anesthetics. Then they are trucked to slaughter, bled to death, and skinned. Leather is not simply a slaughterhouse byproduct—it's a booming industry. The meat industry relies on skin sales to stay in business because the skin represents the most economically important byproduct of the meat-packing industry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information on the devastating effects of leather on animals and the environment, along with lots of nonleather alternatives, visit CowsAreCool.com.

Best Cruelty-Free Personal-Care Product Line

Origins

Origins' packages say it all: "Origins commitment: Preservation of earth, animal and environment." Origins never tests on animals and insists that its suppliers of raw ingredients don't either. So whether it's the Ginger Glimmer™ whipped body cream, Fretnot™ tangerine bubble bath, or Frosty Fudge and Twinkle eye shadow for her or the Blade Runner™ energizing shaving cream, Spicy Hug comforting body wrap, or A Perfect World™ skin guardian for him, you can rest assured that Origins products are as pampering to animals and the Earth as they are to your body.

Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

Smashbox Cosmetics

Brothers Dean and Davis Factor's dedication to making their products both high-quality and humane have created a smashing success. Their cosmetics can be seen in a flurry of fashion magazines and on the famous faces of such Hollywood hotties as Drew Barrymore, Carmen Electra, and Charlize Theron. Says Dean, "It was a personal mission of mine to make all our products cruelty-free. When I first learned that animal testing was a common practice in the cosmetics industry, I was disgusted. I simply could not believe it. From that day forward, I told my staff that all our products needed to be cruelty-free and to only work with manufacturers that do not test on animals. I was extremely excited when that day came six months later, and I am proud to be selling products that are completely cruelty-free."

Best Innovators in Food Service

Gardein by Garden Protein

The demand for vegan and vegetarian foods is one of the fastest-growing trends in the food industry, and Garden Protein has created a new generation of meat alternatives, chiefly for use in the foodservice industry, specifically to meet that growing hunger. As the company says on its Web site, "[T]his versatile new product is ideal for today's evolving diet and lifestyle needs." Gardein™ makes it easy to kick the meat habit. Wheat and soy are transformed into delicious, familiar-tasting foods with all the flavor and texture but none of the cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, and other harmful substances found in meat. Gardein™ is already in widespread use among leading chefs in restaurants, universities, and hospitals and can also be found in the fresh or frozen entrée sections at supermarkets.

Best Vegetarian-Friendly Food-Service Distributor

Sysco

Sysco provides hundreds of thousands of products to almost 400,000 restaurants, schools, hotels, and healthcare facilities throughout North America, and it has recognized the fast-growing demand for vegetarian fare by introducing its Moonrose® Brand, including easy-to-prepare foods fit for any commercial kitchen. From its precooked Pacific Rim ravioli, stuffed with tofu and vegetables, to Herb Crusted Cutlets and vegan brownies, the Moonrose® line has a taste to satisfy the most discerning palate!

Best Vegetarian-Friendly Food-Service Operator

Aramark Education Dining Services

Aramark, which serves more than 500 million meals to students at 400 colleges and prep schools and 400 public school districts every year, recognizes that the demand for vegetarian options is one of the fastest-growing trends in the food industry. Its array of vegetarian-friendly products, including faux chicken burritos, vegan "cheese" burgers, vegan ravioli, Cuban baked beans and rice, vegan carrot cake with Tofutti cream cheese frosting, pecan pie, and apple streusel, never fail to receive a five-star rating from students who've kicked the meat habit or are just looking for better nutrition. Aramark offers made-to-order vegan options in addition to daily vegetarian/vegan menu items, and all Aramark chefs go through the Just4U™ menu program, which teaches them the ins and outs of vegan food preparation.

Best New Vegetarian Food Product

Morningstar Farms

Morningstar Farms, which is owned by Kellogg, was a pioneer in producing meatless options for people concerned about their health. And now that vegan and vegetarian foods have become one of the fastest-growing trends in the food industry, the company finds itself perfectly positioned to meet—and profit from—that demand. Meal Starter Steak Strips and Chik'n Strips are as easy to prepare as they are delicious. Perfect for stroganoff, fajitas, "beef" or "chicken" teriyaki, or your favorite barbecue recipe, these new products are so authentic in texture and flavor that the only thing a diehard meat-eater will miss is the cholesterol, the hormones, and the risk of life-threatening disease that come with every bite of the "real" thing.

Best New Faux-Meat Product

Field Roast Sausages

Long ago, Field Roast founder Chef David Lee was looking for a meat substitute to use in a teriyaki wrap. He experimented with a concentrated wheat protein food called seitan (wheat gluten), whose origins date back to seventh-century China and borrowed from European cuisine, mixing the seitan with wine, mustard, garlic, herbs, vegetables, and legumes. The result formed the base for what would become an entire line of Field Roast meatless meats—now available nationwide—ranging from a variety of amazingly authentic-tasting sausages to various roasts (also available as deli slices) to veggie burgers. Field Roast has become one of the main players in meeting America's growing hunger for healthy, humane, and delicious vegetarian foods—even many nonvegetarians agree that Chef Lee's delicious meatless sausages have the "real" thing beat by a mile!

Best New Nondairy Product

WholeSoy & Co. Cream Cheese

Seeking the very best cheese substitute, the founders of Whole Soy hired a gourmet cheesemaker from Denmark who crafted a vegan cream cheese that will fool even the most diehard cheese gourmands—and we're glad they did! Whole Soy's Cream Cheese Style spreads come in two delicious flavors, Original and Garlic & Herb, and are available at grocery stores nationwide. Read more about why PETA is asking America to dump dairy products at GoVeg.com.

Best New Energy Bar (tie)

MacroBars

These yummy snacks are as big on kindness as they are on flavor! MacroTreats cofounders Jolanta Sonkin and Amelia Kirchoff credit their vegan, macrobiotic diets with not only improving their health but also reversing diseases with which they and their loved ones had been diagnosed. Kirchoff, who grew up on a farm, purchased one of her own and began experimenting with natural, unrefined sweeteners derived from grains and the fruits that she grew. Soon she was creating an array of nutritious, sweet desserts that formed the basis of MacroTreats.

MacroTreats energy bars come in three mouthwatering flavors: Sesame Berry, Carob Almond, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. The energy bars, along with the company's fine line of cookies, avoid unhealthy ingredients, including eggs, dairy products, hydrogenated fats, and refined sugars. They are made only with high-fiber, macrobiotic ingredients and contain slow-burning, complex carbohydrates that are essential for energy production.

Clif Builder's Bars

Quite possibly the world's perfect food, the Builder's Bar from Clif is a double-decker, cocoa-dipped protein powerhouse. Packed with a balance of nutrients, the Builder's Bar refuels you on those days when work feels like a workout. Gone are the days of dry, boring nutrition bars that had to be choked down with a gallon of Gatorade. One panelist quipped, "I don't care what the Nutrition Facts panel says, the Clif Builder's Bar is really a candy bar disguised as an energy bar. Yum." Run, do not walk, to the nearest grocery store for these energy-boosting treats.

Best New Cookbook

Vegan World Fusion Cuisine

This cookbook from The Blossoming Lotus Restaurant in Kauai, Hawaii, offers a symphony of organic gourmet vegan and live food cuisine from around the world. The authors, Mark Reinfeld and Bo Rinaldi, and the chefs of The Blossoming Lotus have put together delectable recipes, from appetizers, salads, wraps, and sandwiches to breads, pizza, casseroles, grains, and beans. The stunning photography, not just of the food but of the locale from which it originated, will transport you to another place.

Best Animal-Friendly Children's Book (tie)

Smudge Bunny

Based on the true story of a rabbit who entered the lives of Dr. Bernie Siegel and his family, Smudge Bunny is the tale of a courageous bunny on her journey to find a new home. The 30-page book is a fun and entertaining way for children to learn compassion and how to treat animal companions as part of the family. Given the well-established link between animal abuse and violence toward fellow humans, Smudge Bunny is an important and powerful educational tool, enhancing a child's understanding that animals are living, feeling beings to be treated with respect and compassion and teaching a vital lesson in empathy for others.

Rough Weather Ahead for Walter the Farting Dog

The title may raise eyebrows, but when kids learn how Walter uses his unfortunate condition to help save a large group of freezing-cold butterflies, they cheer him on with reckless abandon. The book, third in a series by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray and illustrated by Audrey Colman, is dedicated to "everyone who's ever felt misjudged or misunderstood" and tells the story of how Walter's family-not particularly enamored of his contributions to the household's air quality—summons Professor Kompressor, who attaches a contraption to Walter in order to stifle his posterior production. Soon, poor Walter begins to inflate and ultimately to float in the air over the countryside. When he comes upon millions of butterflies in danger of freezing in an icy windstorm, he releases a warm blast that, although not aesthetic, saves the butterflies' lives.

Best Animal-Friendly Software Program

Aquazone Digital PC Aquariums

"Aquazone" is so lifelike that you'll swear you have fish swimming around inside your monitor. Users can customize their "tanks" and fill them with fish of a variety of species to their heart's content, which gives them the benefits of an exotic aquarium at the click of a mouse and without subjecting a single fish to a life of abject boredom. Because they are intelligent, feeling animals, fish who are forced to spend their lives in a tiny tank suffer mentally and physically. Scientific studies have proved that fish learn from one another, have long-term memories, and recognize individuals in their schools. Fish gather information by eavesdropping, and they even use tools—which until recently was thought to be an exclusively human capability. According to University of Edinburgh fisheries biologist Dr. Culum Brown, fish's brains "match or exceed those of 'higher' vertebrates, including nonhuman primates."

North America's Best Vegetarian Bed & Breakfast (tie)

Chez Philippe

Located near busy downtown Montréal on Sainte-Catherine Street, Chez Philippe is an oasis of rest and relaxation. Philippe is a graduate of the Paris Hotelier School (l'École Hôtelière de Paris), and he gained experience in the field while working for an international hotel chain in Europe and the United States, as well as for hotel software manufacturers in the United Kingdom and Canada. The homemade food at Chez Philippe is carefully selected and always cooked to perfection. Locally grown seasonal organic fruits and vegetable are used whenever possible. The typical daily breakfast consists of waffles, crêpes, apple strudel, fruit puddings, fruit mousse, freshly squeezed juices, and seasonal specialties. On warm afternoons, guests at the four cheerfully decorated rooms that make up the inn can relax with a selection of cookies and teas on the beautiful outdoor terrace.

Sweet Thyme Inn

Nestled in the majestic Monongahela National Forest, the Sweet Thyme Inn offers a wealth of year-round recreational activities—like skiing, hiking, rock-climbing, and spelunking—in a peaceful rural setting, in addition to some of the finest vegetarian cuisine in the country. The inn is situated in a rustic farmhouse, complete with an expansive porch for lounging on sunny days and balmy evenings. The entire menu is vegan—no animal products—and the owners insist on using only the finest natural and organic produce and ingredients whenever possible. The menu, which is varied to accommodate seasonal offerings, includes a dinner feast and hearty breakfast with such mouthwatering specialties as Mushroom and Seitan Stroganoff (winter), Herb and Walnut Ravioli (spring), Roasted Veggie Brochettes Over Couscous (summer), and Southern Baked Patties served with Corn and Potato Chowder (fall). The Sweet Thyme Inn advertises its vegan cuisine right on the sign outside and is a favorite retreat of PETA staffers.

Best Vegetarian-Friendly Travel Guide

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet will teach you how to say, "I'm vegan," and ask, "Do you make that without meat?" in languages from Italian to Mandarin to Nepali. And no matter where your travels take you, from Seattle to Hawaii or from Venezuela to Shanghai, Lonely Planet keeps vegetarians in mind, listing vegetarian-friendly restaurants, providing tips on how to interpret local menus, suggesting questions to ask your server, and offering tips on making your trip a culinary experience you'll never forget. Many of the city-specific guides have entire sections on where to go if you're vegetarian, and the phrase books for every language include phrases to help the vegetarian traveler, such as "I'm vegetarian" and "I support animal rights!"

Best Caring Community Event

National Human Dogsled Championship

Every year, during the WinterFest in Lowell, Massachusetts, world-class competitors are strapped to sleds, and they make an icy trek through sleet and snow. But don't worry—the pups are safe in front of the fire at home because this competition is strictly for the two-legged set. Six-person teams compete against each other in a head-to-head, single-elimination tournament. The National Human Dogsled Championship is a fun, family-oriented community event in which all participants are willing, and there are never any casualties.

Music to Animals' Ears

Incredibow

Inventive husband and wife team and long-time musicions Ed and Carolyn Wilcox of Batesville, Arkansas, created the Incredibow, which has become the favorite bow of professional and amateur fiddlers, violinists, cellists, and handsaw musicians around the world. The synthetic bows (no horsehair here!) are virtually indestructible, light, and easy to handle, and they have become so popular that the Wilcoxes have recently contracted with a local manufacturer to keep up with the demand!

(Radio) Wave of the Future

DogCatRadio.com

Adrian Martinez, who shares his L.A. home with six dogs and two cats, started DogCatRadio.com in June of 2005 with one audience in mind: companion animals home alone while their human families are away during the day. DogCatRadio.com takes listener requests, has a V.I.P. club for frequent listeners, and spins tunes for every mood, with sympathetic, soft-voiced DJs to entertain our furry friends when we can't be at home.

Animal-Friendly Firehouse of the Year

Austin Firehouse No. 2

Four-alarm cholesterol levels have led four Austin firefighters to adopt vegetarian diets while they're on duty, but they don't miss the fried fish and fatty steaks of old. Instead, these lean, fire-fighting machines grub on veggie lasagne, "Paul McCartney" enchiladas, and sweet-potato fries. Their decision has paid off, and they know they're less likely to suffer from the consequences of unhealthy eating—becoming debilitated or dying from heart attacks or diabetes—that they see on calls. For more information on why vegetarian diets are better for your health, the environment, and animals, visit GoVeg.com.

Outstanding Animal-Friendly School

Rockland Country Day School

With childhood obesity at shocking levels, Rockland Country Day School has taken a proactive approach to preventing obesity and the diseases linked to it, including heart disease and diabetes. This year, the private New York school hired a local vegetarian restaurant to provide all school meals. So far, the menu is a hit with the students—no surprise there, since recent surveys indicate that vegetarianism among teenagers is growing fast, and 20 percent of all college students say that they are vegetarian.

Outstanding Educational Policy

Toronto District School Board (Dissection Choice Policy)

The Toronto District School Board has enacted a "dissection choice" policy demonstrating its understanding that kids don't want to kill animals in order to learn about life. In September, the Board approved a recommendation requiring all students to be notified of their right to choose alternatives to dissection and requiring the district to provide an alternative if one is requested. This is great news for the animal kingdom and for kids alike, because every year, millions of animals—frogs, cats, mice, dogs, and others—are violently killed and shipped off to schools where young people are given scalpels and told to slice up the animals' bodies as part of their biology, anatomy, and other courses. Now, kids in Toronto will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of biology through methods that don't kill animals.

Stellar Student (tie)

Amber Gibson-Knowlden

As a member of peta2's Leadership Program, Amber balances a full load of classes and a full schedule of animal advocacy. She and fellow group members have spoken at their local city council, successfully petitioning the city not to invite circuses with animals to the city in 2006. She's attended countless circus protests in Chicago and has helped to gather thousands of signed postcards to send to Chicago aldermen in support of the Elephant Protection Ordinance. For students who aren't sure if they can help in the fight for animals rights, Amber says, "There are so many people as passionate about animal rights as you are. Never feel alone."

Irena Rindos

Another peta2 Leadership Program member, Irena holds down three jobs and a full course load, and she still manages to get the animal rights message out to her campus every week! With the help of her campus group, Irena has worked to get vegan options in the campus cafeteria, held an animal-rights film festival, and hosts yearly vegan Thanksgiving potlucks. Irena's motivation? "I want to help people realize that there is no justification for causing harm to animals—be it for food, fur, or 'science.'"

Progressive Country of the Year

Italy

In the past two years, cities throughout Italy have passed a series of animal welfare laws that rival those of any other nation and set the standard for how humans should interact with the animal world. Most impressive was this year's Roman law banning fish in bowls, halting the practice of giving animals as prizes at fairgrounds, requiring dog owners to walk their dogs four times every day, and banning tail-docking for aesthetic reasons. Last year, Rome passed a law levying stiff fines for abandoning a companion animal. Turin, in Northern Italy, passed a law requiring dog walks three times per day, and a law passed in Reggio Emilia in 2004 banned the boiling of live lobsters. The city counselor behind the Roman law said, "It's good to do whatever we can for our animals who in exchange for a little love fill our existence with their attention. The civilization of a city can also be measured by this."

Best Bird-Friendly Innovation

Airepel (Avipel)

Airepel has developed a remarkable product that humanely repels birds from specific areas. The product—Avipel—is applied to surfaces where birds land. The birds pick up the repellent on their bodies and ingest it as they preen, causing a slight reaction in their stomachs. The birds, who can see the chemical, then avoid landing or congregating in areas that have been treated with Avipel. An upset stomach is no fun, but it's nothing compared to cruel and ineffective bird-control measures like shooting, poisoning, and catching birds in glue traps. Birds and other animals who are poisoned often die painful, lingering deaths. Animals caught in glue traps struggle frantically to free themselves but just become more embedded in the soft glue and eventually die of suffocation, thirst, or hunger. These methods are not only inhumane, but ineffective, since as long as conditions remain hospitable to the birds, others will simply move in to fill the void left by those killed, resulting in an endless killing cycle. Avipel stops this cycle in a humane and bird-friendly manner.

Best Cruelty-Free Household Product Line

Safeway

Safeway's "Select" house-brand household products are a dream come true—low-cost, easily available, and cruelty-free! Never tested on animals, Safeway's options for the caring consumer include a lovely line of fragrant dishwashing detergents in scents from green apple and lemon to orange and blue ocean and complete collections of laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners, and more! Safeway "Select" is available at Safeway stores throughout the United States.

Best Cruelty-Free Companion-Animal Food

V-dog

Dogs all over the United States are giving two paws up to V-dog—a delicious vegetarian dog food formerly available only in the U.K. but now available online in the U.S. This is good news, since commercial pet foods are often composed of parts of animals deemed unfit for human consumption, such as ground-up feathers and diseased flesh—not to mention the pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. V-dog is nutritionally complete and cruelty-free (no dogs were killed or kept in laboratory cages for testing purposes as has been the case with other major pet-food companies, such as Iams). V-dog makes it easy for your animal companion to eat a healthy and humane diet. Most dogs' health improves on a healthy vegetarian diet, but be sure to monitor your dog closely to be sure that the new diet agrees with him or her.

Animal-Friendly Entertainment of the Year

Wicked, the Musical

This Broadway hit is a feast for the eyes and the imagination, with a strong animal-rights message, to boot! The tragically misunderstood "wicked" witch isn't really wicked at all. Motivated by kindness, she works to protect humans and animals who live as captives of the Wizard of Oz. The show is fast-paced, exciting, and animal-friendly, and it plays to packed houses every night, both on Broadway and while touring. With cruelty-free entertainment like this, it's no wonder that Ringling Bros. and others who use captive animals for "entertainment" have to give tickets away for free.

Best Humane Wildlife Innovation

Rentokil Initial (RADAR Pestconnect)

Unlike inhumane poisons, glue traps, snap traps, and live traps that aren't frequently checked, Rentokil Initials' RADAR Pestconnect unit humanely traps and gently euthanizes unwanted mice and rats with carbon dioxide. Consumers spend millions of dollars each year on mousetraps, poisons, and exterminators in an effort to "control" rodent populations, which all cause an enormous amount of suffering and a traumatic death for the animals they catch. Pestconnect provides a peaceful death for mice and rats and then sends a text message to a local "controller" to come empty and reset the trap. This innovative and thoughtful product will prevent millions of mice and rats from suffering painful deaths.