Animal advocates were honored for their hard work and noble efforts on Thursday October 4th at the first-ever International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal Action Awards.
California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi was among those honored, being given the important Lifetime Achievement Award.
As a huge leader regarding various issues affecting animals across the globe, Ben Stein received the Animal Advocate Award.
· Glenda Davis: As the manager of the Navajo Nation Veterinary and Livestock Program, Davis has implemented a useful animal disease response plan on the Navajo Nation and has also worked tirelessly to amend the Nation’s livestock code so that will include animal cruelty provisions
· Ed Hogan: Through a 22-acre Horse Rescue Sanctuary in Hidden Valle, CA, founded by Hogan and his family, Hogan has devoted his time to caring and rehabilitating wounded, abused and aging horses. In addition, through the Rangers program, he gives children the much needed and wonderful opportunity of bonding with these horses while showing them about compassion and respect for animals
· Marcelo Hoynowski: As a Seal Campaign Activist, Hoynowski uses his website,
www.mypointis.net, to promote the message of ending the Canadian seal hunt.
· Richie Moretti: Founder of the The Turtle Hospital in Marathon Key, FL, which has treated more than 750 sea turtles that have been hurt in the sea
· Congressman Nick Rahall (D- West Virginia): Serving his 16th term in Congress, Rahall has used his position as the Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives to support the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act and also co-sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act
· Steve Smith and Alayne Marker: As founders of the Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Ovanda, MT, Smith and Marker rescue disabled animals including blind cats and horses and even blind and deaf dogs.
The awards ceremony was held during the 15th annual Animal Action Week, which ran from October 1-7. As the world’s largest educational event that is focused on animals, Animal Action Week strives to educate over 2 million young people in 15 different 
Ben Stein, Brandon Molale (Reno 911! Miami), Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory), Perrey Reeves and Rex Lee (Entourage), Vicki Roberts (Co-Author “Beyond Reasonable Doubt”) and Amy Davidson (8 Simple Rules) were among those in attendance at the V.I.P. cocktail reception held at the Shutters Hotel On The Beach in Santa Monica.
For more information about the International Fund for Animal Welfare, visit www.ifaw.org. For information regarding Animal Action Week, visit www.animalactionweek.org.