After attending and presenting at the Kids Choice Awards, Hayden Panettiere made a beeline for the Genesis Awards where she was honored for her work to end the slaughter of whales and dolphins in Japan. We've always said we are suckers for persistence and Hayden has really proved her dedication to this cause.

The Genesis Awards honors those in the media who put the spotlight on a variety of animal protection issues. Hayden received the Gretchen Wyler Award, given annually at the Genesis Awards to a celebrity who brings attention to animal causes. An actress and animal advocate, Hayden was honored for her hands-on work to expose Japan's slaughter of dolphins and whales (Remember when she paddled out on a surfboard and protested the fishing boats??)

Hayden's parents and her boyfriend, Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia, were there to watch Hayden accept the award. Her heartfelt speech was brief but emotional-- Hayden broke into tears as she told the audience how special the award is to her.

"As an actress, you always dream of getting awards like the Golden Globe award, but I never expected to get an award that is this special and important to me as this. There are people who dedicate their entire lives to preserving the environment and defending animals, they are so much more deserving of something like this." source

Humbled and emotional, Hayden walked off stage as the audience gave her a standing ovation.

CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation also received an award for a Dramatic Series for the episode, "Lying Down With Dogs." The writers of this top-rated drama tackled the brutal world of dogfighting and, as a result, 22 million viewers were exposed to the cruelty that goes into the training and fighting of dogs.

And CNN's Planet in Peril won for raising awareness in a TV Documentary. In the Genesis-nominated episode, Anderson Cooper and Jeff Corwin go undercover to investigate the thriving, illegal trade in exotic animals in Thailand's street markets.

Find out how you can help the dolphins and whales -- and other animals! -- by clicking here or by going to the Humane Society's website!