Ellen and Tim both “make it work” when it comes to promoting animal rights

It’s a dog eat dog world out there. Ellen DeGeneres and Tim Gunn realize this better than anyone, though, which is why animal rights organization PETA has honored them as “Woman and Man of the Year.”

In addition to having major puppy love, Ellen is being honored for her meat-free diet. She explained her decision to go vegan on her official Web site when she said, “I personally chose to go vegan because I educated myself on factory farming and cruelty to animals, and I suddenly realized that what was on my plate were living things, with feelings.” She’s also used her talk show, NBC’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as a platform to speak against animal cruelty, inviting experts like Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Eating Animals, and vegan diet guru Dr. Neal Barnard to appear on her show.

As for Project Runway host Tim, he made it work by narrating PETA’s Fashion Victims video, which exposes the cruelty of the fur industry, and champions designers who use faux fur fabrics.

“Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favor of compassionate acts,” said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk in a statement today, Dec. 30. “Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits, all because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voiceless.”

Ellen follows in the footsteps (paw prints) of another talk show host – Oprah Winfrey – who was last year’s winner. She and Tim will receive plaques and letters of appreciation from PETA for being so doggone awesome.