PETA gets requests from people for free doghouses for dogs of all shapes and sizes. But when our fieldworker laid eyes on 7-pound Chloe, she did a double take: This little dog was chained up outside! 

Unable to bear the thought that the tiny Chihuahua would spend the rest of her life outdoors simply because her guardians said that they couldn't housetrain her, our fieldworker decided something had to give. Small short-haired dogs like Chloe are especially susceptible to hot and cold weather, so she would be miserable outside. She might not even survive the upcoming hot summer months.

What a relief that Chloe's family agreed that she would be safer and happier indoors. When we ran an adoption ad, we heard from a sweet woman who had recently lost her Chihuahua because of complications from diabetes. Since our potential adopter described herself as a retired, "stay-at-home dog mom" able to housetrain her properly, we knew Chloe was in luck.

Sure enough, Chloe has mastered housetraining in her new home and is sticking to her new mom like glue, even claiming a satin pillow on the couch as her special spot. Sounds like the magnet on her new mom's refrigerator that reads, "I'm owned by a Chihuahua," isn't far off base.

Thanks to our supporters, PETA just brought home the trophy for Favorite Nonprofit Animal Organization in the 2012 Veggie Awards! The annual awards, presented by VegNews Magazine, celebrate "the very best of all things vegan."

What sets PETA supporters apart is that you are determined and committed in the quest for animal rights. When we let you know that someone is abusing animals, you e-mail the perps, demonstrate, and write and call the abuser demanding an end to the cruelty. You speak up, march with us, put on costumes, and even strip down—whatever it takes to make people pay attention to animal welfare issues. You proudly sport our shirts and bumper stickers, proclaiming to everyone that animals are not ours to use and abuse. You drive out in the middle of the night—or in the middle of a hurricane—to rescue animals in peril. And you donate your money to fund undercover investigations, literature, doghouses, spay-and-neuter surgeries, emergency animal rescues, and everything else that we do.

You are the reason that PETA can save as many animals as we do, so we thank VegNews and you. We are honored to share the award for Favorite Nonprofit Animal Organization with every one of you.

When a police officer asks you to do something, it’s generally a good idea to comply. And when a police officer asks you to help animals, well that’s a no-brainer! The Virginia Beach Police Department was routinely fielding calls in certain low-income neighborhoods about animals getting sick because they weren’t vaccinated or shivering outdoors with little to no shelter from the elements. The police asked PETA and the Virginia Beach SPCA if we could all work together one weekend and help. Did we ever.

PETA rolled out our new mobile clinic and altered nearly 30 dogs and cats. We also handed out bundle after bundle of straw bedding for outdoor dogs, so that they could at least have a warm place to lie down, and signed their families up for our free doghouse delivery program. The VBSPCA offered free rabies and distemper shots for animals who had already been spayed and neutered, administering a whopping 250 vaccinations.

Aside from the danger of some animals being arrested for excessive cuteness, the day was a huge success. Said PETA vice president Daphna Nachminovitch, “We'd like to see this example of teamwork to help stop animal suffering emulated in cities across the country."

Did you know that PETA did some wonderful things in 2011 that you probably didn't read about in the newspapers? I do—because I've read PETA's latest annual report, and you can too. Here's a sample of the interesting stuff that you'll find in just the "Year in Numbers" section alone:

©iStockphoto/ Andrew Helwich

• PETA's SNIP and ABC clinics spayed and neutered more than 11,000 animals.
• More than 40 million people visited PETA's websites.
• More than 650,000 free vegetarian/vegan starter kits were sent out by PETA.
• PETA's Communications Department booked upward of 4,500 media interviews.
• More than 300 free doghouses were built and delivered—and 1,200 bales of straw were bagged—to give shelter and warmth to dogs forced to live outdoors.
• PETA's International Grassroots Campaign Department helped organize nearly 1,500 demonstrations.
• The amount of free advertising space secured by PETA was worth more than 1.5 million dollars.

There's lots more to learn—but check it out for yourself. And if you want to be a part of a record-breaking 2012, there's no better time to join us than right now!

What do dogs forced to live outside in all weather extremes long for? Being inside with their human "pack," of course. But when they are denied that basic opportunity, a sturdy doghouse stuffed with straw to help keep out the freezing winter weather can make a huge difference in these dogs' tiny backyard world. Tonka, a pit bull who recently received a PETA doghouse to replace the plastic barrel that had been his poor excuse for shelter (imagine it filled with rainwater and the cold wind blowing night after night all miserable winter long), was delighted with his new digs.

In addition to aiding sick, injured, and abused animals around the clock, PETA's Community Animal Project (CAP) delivers houses to dogs like Tonka in the area surrounding PETA's headquarters—southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. CAP staffers check in regularly with the dogs to make sure that they have adequate food and clean water and talk with their owners about proper care. They also routinely deliver toys, treats, and, of course, love and affection to these neglected animals. Many doghouse recipients are also clients of PETA's mobile spay-and-neuter clinics and, therefore, will not be contributing to the homeless animal crisis.

Never pass by a "backyard dog" who doesn't have adequate shelter: Contact local animal-control officials immediately. Click here to make a donation to support the doghouse program and CAP's vital work to bring relief to neglected and abused animals.

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, has been slammed by an unusually severe snowstorm, but as difficult as it is for us humans to deal with freezing conditions, it's much worse for dogs who are left outside. Now some of those dogs in the South Bend, Indiana, area—where harsh winter weather is more common—will be able to endure the worst of the season more easily, thanks to the Michiana Animal Alliance Group (MAAG). 

Inspired by a PETA program, MAAG is providing needy dogs with custom-built doghouses and warm, dry straw this winter. Keep up the great work, MAAG!

PETA is working toward the day when all dogs have guardians who take them inside and never chain them—and we need your help to make that happen—but until then, we can at least make these animals' lives as comfortable as possible. Support PETA's doghouse program and make a cold animal's life a lot warmer.

Written by Jeff Mackey

Forget Brett Favre's, ahem, revealing texts—I'd much rather see Dallas Cowboy Martellus Bennett's revealing new PETA interview. Check out this tenderhearted tight end as he talks about everything from Mozart to the merits of mutts.

Can I get a collective "Aww"? Now that Martellus has inspired you to help animals, how about sponsoring a doghouse? FYI—it's for a needy outdoor dog, not Favre.

Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth

dougwoods/CC by 2.0

In honor of 10/10/10, here are 10 easy ways to get active for animals this weekend and beyond:

1. Buy a house—a doghouse, that is. Every year, PETA builds and delivers hundreds of straw-filled doghouses for dogs who are chained outdoors in the cold, all winter long—dogs who might otherwise have only a metal barrel or a piece of plywood as shelter from the wind, snow, and storms. So how about sponsoring a doghouse?
2. "Write" animal wrongs. Remember, the pen is mightier than the sword, so take every opportunity to educate and protest by writing letters to newspapers, businesses, and legislators.
3. Purge and splurge. Make over your make-up bag and medicine cabinet with cruelty-free cosmetics and personal-care products. Lose any gruesome garb (made with leather, wool, fur, and silk) and stock up on stylin' synthetics instead.
4. Take the 30-Day Pledge to Be Veg. If you're already vegan, convince others to take the plunge. FYI, pitching the pledge over a delicious vegan dinner is a tasty and effective way to make your case!
5. Enlighten eavesdroppers. Within earshot of other shoppers in the checkout line, talk with a friend about factory farming. Spreading compassion is as easy as spreading the word.
6. Come to the rescue. You never know when you might come across an injured animal, so program numbers into your phone for the local SPCA or humane society, local police and animal control, and local wildlife rehabilitators (numbers are available from humane societies).
7. Demand change for your dollar. Don't support any companies that contribute to the suffering of animals (we're talking to you, KFC, McDonald's, Ringling, and PetSmart). Urge others to boycott animal-abusing companies, and let the objects of your boycott know that they have lost your business.
8. Get active online. Place our banners on your website, stream PETA videos on your personal page, and link to PETA.org in your e-mail signature.
9. Nurture nature. Enjoy autumn and help animals at the same time by taking a nature walk and tackling the task of picking up fishing tackle, soda cans, six-pack rings, and other debris that can injure animals.
10. Be neighborly. Odds are good that somewhere in your neighborhood there's a forgotten Fido who's chained outside 24/7. Offer to walk the dog and encourage your neighbors to bring him or her indoors. Make sure the dog has food, fresh water, and adequate shelter. Look for signs of abuse and report neglect to authorities immediately.

And why stop at 10? There are a million more things you can do to help animals right now!  

Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth

Every year, PETA's offices are flooded with calls about dogs who are relegated to the backyard by guardians who refuse to let them inside. These dogs are left outside in freezing temperatures, often with nothing more than a plastic barrel or a wooden lean-to as shelter from the ice, sleet, and snow. For the last two years, a third-grade class at Samuel Staples Elementary School in Easton, Connecticut, has worked hard to raise funds for PETA's doghouse program, which provides warm homes for lonely backyard dogs. The students donate their leftover lunch money, parts of their allowance—even the quarters that they find in couch cushions. With all their combined change, the students were able to raise more than $800 for dogs last year!

It was such a great idea that TeachKind—PETA's humane-education program, which I coordinate—is launching a brand-new school fundraising program called Change for Chained Dogs.

This program makes it easy for schools to get students active and empower them to make a difference for animals. Every school that signs up gets an introductory letter, stickers, leaflets, and a sign to print out and tape to collection cans. So far, more than 500 schools—including Samuel Staples—have signed up for the fundraiser. It's a great opportunity for students, families, and communities to work together to help dogs in need.

We hope that even more schools will get involved in this exciting program, so if you have kids or know any educators, encourage them to sign up their school to host a Change for Chained Dogs fundraiser! And if you want to make a contribution yourself but don't know any kids, don't worry—you can always donate directly to PETA's doghouse program to help give lonely dogs a warm home this winter.

Written by Liz Graffeo

Country superstar Emmylou Harris' life has really gone to the dogs—and she wouldn't have it any other way. Devoted to lending a hand to down-and-out dogs, the down-to-earth music legend once rolled up her sleeves to help PETA build doghouses for cold and lonely dogs who were trapped at the end of a chain.Now she's taking her canine cause to the airwaves. In a new series of radio PSAs, Emmylou encourages people to spay and neuter their animal companions and take them inside rather than keep them chained outside, longing for warmth, safety, and companionship.

Why is Emmylou fixated on getting animals fixed and out of the cold? Homelessness is not just a human problem. U.S. animal shelters must put nearly 4 million dogs and cats to death every year because of simple math: There are too many animals and not enough worthy adoptive homes. Millions more animals are condemned to a sad life of loneliness, isolated outside with no exercise or attention. Wintry weather means extra hardship for "backyard" dogs. Chained dogs often have nowhere to go to escape the cold and snow. They suffer from frostbite, exposure, and dehydration when water sources freeze. Listen to her PSAs here:

Dogs don't deserve to be given the cold shoulder. This winter, exercise some Emmylou-style empathy: Practice your ABC's and declare a "winter watch" for animals who live outdoors. Click here to download Emmylou's chained dog PSA and click here to download her adoption PSA.

Written by Amy Elizabeth