Hayden Panettiere, Wolfgang Puck and 'Year of the Dog' take awards

This couldn't have come as a major surprise: "Year of the Dog," a movie about a woman who segues from pet-lover to animal rights activist, was named feature film of the year at the 22nd annual Genesis Awards, presented by the Humane Society of the United States to honor media presentations of animal protection issues.

The comedy, written and directed by Mike White, was praised for its "quirky yet ultimately compassionate portrait" of the activist (played by Molly Shannon), whose transformation provided audiences with what the Human Society called a primer on "key animal protection issues."

Perhaps more surprising was the Humane Society's recognition of Hayden Panettiere. The young actress won the Wyler Award "for using her courage, compassion and celebrity to draw worldwide attention to Japan's cruel dolphin slaughter."

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was give special recognition by the organization for "implementing a series of animal welfare policies that have drawn public attention to the most cruel forms of factory farming."

In ceremonies Saturday at the Beverly Hillton, "Sharkwater" won as top documentary film and television honors went to "According to Jim," for an episode about making sacrifices for a family pet, and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," for an episode about dog fighting.

On the news side, CBS picked up awards for animal-related stories on "60 Minutes," "Sunday Morning" and "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric."

THE 22ND GENESIS AWARDS WINNERS AND HONOREES

FEATURE FILM
"YEAR OF THE DOG" Paramount Vantage
For a quirky, yet ultimately compassionate portrait of an activist that provides a "101" on key animal protection issues.

DOCUMENTARY FILM
"SHARKWATER" Atlantis/Alliance
For reinventing the image of the ecologically important but much-maligned shark by highlighting its majesty through the cruel prism of shark-finning.

SID CAESAR COMEDY AWARD
"ACCORDING TO JIM" Guinea Pygmalion – ABC
For suggesting that even a macho man like Jim can appreciate the big rewards that come from making financial sacrifices for a very small family pet.

DRAMATIC SERIES
"CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION" Lying Down with Dogs – CBS
For shedding light on the brutality of dog fighting with a plot that reveals a victim's sadistic life as a dog fighter may have led to her vengeful murder.

TV NEWSMAGAZINE – NATIONAL
"60 MINUTES" multiple episodes - CBS
For a series of unparalleled reports on the world's endangered wildlife, including elephants caught in an ivory war on the Sudan border, and the decimation of the gentle mountain gorillas of Africa.

TV NEWSMAGAZINE – CABLE / LOCAL / PBS / SYNDICATED
"REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL" Bred to Die and Faster Horses – HBO
For an in-depth portrait of the secret, brutal world of a former dogfighter, and for lifting the veil on the illegal but systemic doping of race horses.

NATIONAL NEWS FEATURE
"CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC" multiple segments – CBS
For three diverse, thought provoking stories on an unusual tiger sanctuary, the dark side of the horse racing industry, and an exhaustive and graphic inquiry into the dog fighting industry.

LOCAL NEWS SERIES
WAGA-TV FOX 5 (Atlanta) Fox Pens: Fair Hunt?
For a groundbreaking probe into the obscure, but steadily growing "blood sport" of fox pen hunting in Georgia, involving the interstate trafficking of wildlife used for bait.

WKYC-TV (Cleveland) Pig Farm Abuse
For a no-holds-barred look at the appalling everyday abuses inflicted upon pigs in a factory farm, which resulted in an investigation by local authorities.

LOCAL NEWS FEATURE
KHOU-TV (Houston) multiple segments
For a dogged and unrivalled output of stories covering horse slaughter, elephant abuse, faux fur mislabeling and dog fighting.

MORNING SHOW
SUNDAY MORNING

"Baghdad Zoo, Unleashed and Unforgettable Elephants" - CBS

For three unconventional and inspiring stories about the wonder of animals exemplified by a man working to restore the Baghdad Zoo, a Broadway showman using humane methods to train shelter dogs for stardom, and elephants enjoying the pleasures of retirement in a sanctuary.

TV DOCUMENTARY
"PLANET IN PERIL"- CNN
For a daring undercover investigation into the pervasive and illegal trade of exotic animals in Thailand's street markets.

BRIGITTE BARDOT INTERNATIONAL
"THE CAIRO CONNECTION" – various countries
For a searing exposé of the cruel bush meat trade and its vast international network of illegal trafficking operations.

OUTSTANDING WRITTEN WORD


PERIODICAL
GOURMET MAGAZINE
The Occasional Vegetarian - Letter from the Editor Ruth Reichl
A View to a Kill by Daniel Zwerdling
For a provocative letter from the editor, prefacing a groundbreaking exposé of the cruelties endured by chickens raised and slaughtered for human consumption in the food lover's guide to fine cuisine.

NEWSPAPER MAGAZINE FEATURE
CHICAGO TRIBUNE MAGAZINE Is Animal Liberation Going Soft? by Mick Dumke
For presenting a new perspective on the animal rights movement, acknowledging the mainstream acceptance of the issues the movement espouses.

SERIES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
TULSA WORLD by Omer Gillham and Curtis Killman
For boldly delving into the puppy mill industry in a state with one of the largest concentrations of mass breeders
COLUMNIST
STU BYKOFSKY - Philadelphia Daily News
For increasing awareness of animal issues with three novel and impassioned columns calling attention to elephant captivity, the cruelty of foie gras, and turkeys raised for Thanksgiving dinner.


BRIGITTE BARDOT INTERNATIONAL PRINT
THE JAPAN TIMES by Boyd Harnell and Andrew Kershaw
For pressuring the Japanese fishing industry by continuing to spotlight both the cruelty of the dolphin slaughter and the attendant human health risks of eating dolphin meat.

THE WYLER AWARD

HAYDEN PANETTIERE
For using her courage, compassion and celebrity to draw worldwide attention to Japan's cruel dolphin slaughter.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION

WOLFGANG PUCK
For implementing a series of animal welfare policies that have drawn public attention to the most cruel forms of factory farming.