Petside.com recently released its first-ever list of “Top 25 Pet People“. The list includes celebrities, everyday citizens, an animal-loving tween and a so-called “reformed bad-boy” who have all positively affected the pet community by doing everything from organizing efforts to help animals in Haiti to rescuing a pack of beagles from a bankrupt testing lab in New Jersey.

petside.com

Petside.com based the rankings on the individual’s overall impact on the welfare of pets and on their ability to inspire others to action. It’s interesting (outrageous?) to note that the organization has named Michael Vick as #10.

Here are the Top 10 pet people:

1. Leslie Capin – Imagine winning $1 million then giving it all away. That’s exactly what dermatologist Leslie Capin did after her eight-pound Chihuahua won the Cutest Dog Competition held by All American Pet Brands. She donated the first place prize money to two Colorado shelters near her home.

– Imagine winning $1 million then giving it all away. That’s exactly what dermatologist Leslie Capin did after her eight-pound Chihuahua won the Cutest Dog Competition held by All American Pet Brands. She donated the first place prize money to two Colorado shelters near her home. 2. Ellen DeGeneres – Donated 5,000 meals from her pet food company to a pet food bank. The comedian’s goal this year is to donate one million meals to shelter pets and raise awareness of the need for pet adoption.

– Donated 5,000 meals from her pet food company to a pet food bank. The comedian’s goal this year is to donate one million meals to shelter pets and raise awareness of the need for pet adoption. 3. Cathy King, DVM – This Founder of World Vets deployed a team to help pets in Haiti. The group also operated 40 other international aid programs with the goal of improving animal welfare, alleviating animal suffering, and preventing the spread of zoonotic disease in areas of the world where resources are limited and the need is often the greatest.

– This Founder of World Vets deployed a team to help pets in Haiti. The group also operated 40 other international aid programs with the goal of improving animal welfare, alleviating animal suffering, and preventing the spread of zoonotic disease in areas of the world where resources are limited and the need is often the greatest. 4. Matt DeAngelis – Helped organize rescue of more than 100 beagles from bankrupt testing lab. DeAngelis made room for 90 of the dogs, formerly used for painful toxicity testing, at Pets Alive, a no-kill shelter located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.

– Helped organize rescue of more than 100 beagles from bankrupt testing lab. DeAngelis made room for 90 of the dogs, formerly used for painful toxicity testing, at Pets Alive, a no-kill shelter located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. 5. Oprah Winfrey – Publicized her adoption of two Springer Spaniel puppies, Sunny and Lauren, from PAWS Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill shelter. The black and white pups were wheeled out in a white bassinette with pink ribbons so audience members could get a good look at her new “babies.” Last year Oprah adopted Sadie, a Cocker Spaniel, from the same organization.

– Publicized her adoption of two Springer Spaniel puppies, Sunny and Lauren, from PAWS Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill shelter. The black and white pups were wheeled out in a white bassinette with pink ribbons so audience members could get a good look at her new “babies.” Last year Oprah adopted Sadie, a Cocker Spaniel, from the same organization. 6. Mike Arms – Creator of Iams “Home 4 The Holidays” pet adoption campaign (now in its 12th year), which set its highest goal ever this year. The annual adoption drive is considered the largest in history, so far finding homes for nearly five million pets — and counting!

– Creator of Iams “Home 4 The Holidays” pet adoption campaign (now in its 12th year), which set its highest goal ever this year. The annual adoption drive is considered the largest in history, so far finding homes for nearly five million pets — and counting! 7. Betty White – The Golden Girl posed with a host of hunky models for a 2011 wall calendar (on sale here) and donated the royalties to a local animal shelter.

– The Golden Girl posed with a host of hunky models for a 2011 wall calendar (on sale here) and donated the royalties to a local animal shelter. 8. Paula Abdul – Spokeswoman for the American Humane Association’s Pets and Women’s Shelters Program that encourages domestic-violence shelters to offer both people and pets a safe haven.

– Spokeswoman for the American Humane Association’s Pets and Women’s Shelters Program that encourages domestic-violence shelters to offer both people and pets a safe haven. 9. Mimi Ausland – The 14-year-old launched a campaign to create a National Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet Day by sending more than 320,000 letters in support of the idea to the White House.

– The 14-year-old launched a campaign to create a National Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet Day by sending more than 320,000 letters in support of the idea to the White House. 10. Michael Vick – Partnered with The Humane Society of the United States and spoke to thousands of at-risk school children about the dangers of dog-fighting and animal cruelty.

Check out the complete list of 25 here.

I’d like to add to this list all of the workers and volunteers at San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control who do a lot with a little and who took such great care of my little Alice before I brought her home, and Sherri Franklin, the founder of Muttville, who is an amazing individual with a giant heart who is helping to ensure the well-being of senior dogs everywhere.

Do you know extraordinary people who are making a difference for animals? Please put a shout out to these unsung heroes in the comments.