Mickey Rourke's ABC Ad

Ah, awards season. My favorite time of year. Last night I watched the Golden Globe Awards on pins and needles, and I've already begun my countdown to the Oscars. But the best part of the Globes last night wasn't Sacha Baron Cohen making everyone squirm in their seats while he rightfully hated on Madonna—it was Mickey Rourke's win for his role in The Wrestler and his moving and heartwarming thank-you speech.

While Rourke thanked his co-stars, his agent, and, yes, even Bruce Springsteen, the most memorable part of his speech was when he thanked his dogs and said, "Sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you've got is your dog. They've meant the world to me."

Well said, Mickey! I think we can all relate to that. It's about time for the furry, loyal companions who give so much love and adoration to their guardians to get recognized.

Another animal-friendly winner we love from last night was Alec Baldwin for his role in 30 Rock. Although he's been in roughly 5 trillion films and TV appearances that have all been brilliant, he'll always be our own special star for his fantastic narration of "Meet Your Meat."

Posted by Christine Doré

Snow is great when you're watching it through your window with a soy hot chocolate, but imagine being in harness, dragging a cart full of tourists through slush and ice all day, without even a blanket—despite temperatures in the teens—and with nothing but iron between you and the pavement. Doesn't sound like such a happy holiday to me. And when you call the ASPCA, they mumble that they really can't do much. Go figure! That's why PETA supporters Alec Baldwin, Calvin Klein, Todd Oldham, Kathy Najimy, and our very own Golden Girl, Rue McClanahan, have joined together to sponsor our holiday ad calling on New York City to ban horse-drawn carriages!

You remember our Kristen Johnston ad in which she appears as Lady Godiva on a (fake) horse? That ad reads, "Don't get taken for a ride. Horse-drawn carriages are cruel." With help from our famous friends, our ads are going to appear on the tops of hundreds of NYC taxis throughout the holiday season!

It certainly helps to have kindhearted friends in Hollywood places, especially when you're defending those with no voices of their own. Hopefully, this will remind anyone looking for a ride that there are kinder alternatives! So remember, if you're lucky enough to be in New York for the holidays, make sure to save a horse and ride the subway!

Thanks to Alex, Calvin, Todd, Kathy, and Rue, you'll soon see this ad all over NYC.

Posted by Lianne Turner

sidereel / CC

Well, it's about time! The Academy finally realized what's what last night when they awarded our beloved Alec Baldwin a well-deserved Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Take it from an office full of die-hard 30 Rock fans—the man is amazingly funny. And hey, take it from an office full of animal lovers—the man is one of the greatest friends to animals we know!

Alec—a vegetarian, by the way—has always donated his time and effort to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Highlights of Alec's work for animals include hosting the premier screening of Blinders, a documentary that shows the cruel horse-drawn carriage industry for what it really is; recording a public service announcement for PETA in behalf of animals used in entertainment; pleading for compassion for animals who are used and abused in traveling acts; and going to Capitol Hill with PETA to address members of Congress and demand that the Humane Slaughter Act finally be enforced.

But, y'know, I think a lot of us love Alec most for his narration of PETA's slaughterhouse investigation video, "Meet Your Meat." His voice has inspired tens of thousands of people to stop eating animals—and more people watch the video every day!

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So congratulations, Mr. Baldwin, on your well-deserved Emmy award. All of us here at PETA are grateful for your years of dedicated advocacy, and we wish you continued happiness and success in the years ahead!

Posted by Carrie Ann Harris

Photo Credit: Patricia Schlein

Last night was another red-carpet moment for animals. Alec Baldwin hosted the premier screening of Blinders—the latest documentary to give viewers a critical inside look at the inner dealings of the horse-drawn carriage industry. Director Donny Moss exposed the archaic industry for what it is—a living hell for horses. Forced to spend their days breathing in exhaust fumes, walking on hard pavement, and risking their lives because of weather extremes and idiotic NYC drivers that somehow passed their driver's tests, these horses are prevented from doing anything that is natural and important to them. Moss began to record the daily lives and living conditions of horses pulling carriages in and around Central Park after noticing the onslaught of recent injuries to horses in the carriage industry.

Says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk of the documentary, "From the stench inside the horses' minuscule stalls, where horses sleep standing up in piles of their own waste, to the hostile streets of Manhattan, where horses live a nose-to-tailpipe existence, Moss doesn't blink in documenting how horses live long after tourists' 30-minute rides are over."

Chrissie Hynde, Pink, and Lea Michele have all thrown their support behind a carriage-horse-free NYC; now it's your turn. Throw your blinders in the trash and jump on the bandwagon ... so to speak, of course.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky