Ke$ha Gets Animalistic

Bisexual pop star Ke$ha's animal activism has paid off: it was announced this week that she'll recieve the prestigious Wyler Award at The Humane Society of the United States' 2013 Genesis Awards Benefit Gala, to be held on Saturday, March 23, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The HSUS' Wyler Award is one of the animal protection organization's highest honors and is bestowed on a celebrity who has increased awareness of animal issues via the media.

Ke$ha, the Humane Society International's first Global Ambassador for animals, has spread the word about street dogs, the trophy hunting of endangered lions, shark-finning, Canada's commercial seal slaughter, dogfighting and cruelty-free cosmetics, highlighting a different animal issue each month on her website and urging her fans and social media followers to take action for animals. That social media audience is vast, too: Ke$ha has 22 million Facebook likes, over three million Twitter followers, and over 330 million views on VEVO. She's also had seven consecutive Top 10 hits, including four number one singles in "TiKToK," "Your Love Is My Drug," "We R Who We R," and the latest, "Die Young."

"It means so much to me to be recognized by The Humane Society of the United States because advocating for animals is second nature to me," said Ke$ha."My affinity with animals and the natural world inspires me and my music. I don't understand how anyone can justify abusing or exploiting animals, and as long as it continues, I intend to keep talking about it."

"The animals have a bold and passionate ambassador in Ke$ha, who is not known for holding back on what she thinks," says Beverly Kaskey, senior director of The HSUS' Hollywood Outreach and executive producer of The HSUS' Genesis Awards Benefit Gala. "The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to Ke$ha for informing her millions of fans worldwide about new and ongoing threats to our fellow creatures, while connecting them to resources that enable them to take action."

The Humane Society of the United States, founded in 1954, is the nation's largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers for fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. The group rescues and cares for tens of thousands of animals each year, but their primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs.