Here’s a deal for you. Take one minute to vote for your favorite film or TV dog star—from Astro to Old Yeller, Rin Tin Tin to Toto—before noon EST next Monday, March 1, and you’ll be entered to win two tickets to the Genesis Awards on March 20 and a one-night stay at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Walt Disney Features, Pixar Animation Studios
"Up" is among this year's Genesis nominees.

The Genesis Awards is the Oscars^® for the animals—now in its 24th year. Teri Hatcher, Kristen Bell, Jon Lovitz and two dozen other celebrities are slated to recognize and honor artists, writers, and others in the entertainment industry and in the press who incorporate animal protection themes in their creative works, reporting, and opinion-writing.

As you browse this year’s list of 49 nominees—spanning print, TV news, feature films, and narrative television media—I’m sure you’ll see some of your favorites and likely discover some new works, as well. In a breakout year for animal protection-themed documentaries and movies, our nominees include the Academy Award nominated feature film “Up” and documentary film Academy Award nominees “The Cove” and “Food, Inc.” Also nominated are Oprah's O magazine for a special series on animals; TIME magazine for multiple cover stories on endangered species, dogfighting, and factory farming; Larry King Live for covering Alaska’s aerial gunning of wolves; FOX’s Bones for an episode on factory farming; ABC’s Nightline for multiple stories including an investigation of the largest chimpanzee research facility; and Newsweek, for a piece exposing puppy mills.

If you don’t win, you should still think about attending the Genesis Awards. It’s a life-changing event, and it’s one you’ll never forget. You can order tickets here. And for those of you who cannot make it, you can see the edited awards presentation on Animal Planet on April 24-25.