Hayden Panettiere is a Hero to Dolphins.

21-year old actress, Hayden Panettiere played a hero on television for years, but it seems she is a real life hero to the most unlikely sources dolphins and whales. Hayden has an intense passion for animals rights, especially those under the sea. On Halloween 2007, she joined forces with the organization, "Sea Shepard." Sea Shepard is an organization that stops cruelty to marine animals in direct, sometimes dangerous ways. Hayden joined with the group to stop the murder of dolphins in Japan. The emotional protest lasted for several minutes and is difficult watch, but one thing is for sure Hayden is a hero to dolphins.

PETA awarded the hero actress for her effort to try and stop the dolphin hunt, and was awarded "The Compassion in Action Award" in November 2007. In 2008, letters were distributed from the actress to Norwegian and Japanese ambassadors to stop the unlawful killings of whales. That same year, Hayden became involved in an auction for "Save The Wales." The campaign encourages young adults to make their voices heard in the petitioning of whale and dolphin mistreatment and death. The winner of the auction got to go whale watching with the hero actress herself. Hayden also maintains a vegetarian diet because of her animal rights beliefs.

Many people hold ideas and stances about issues that are moral in nature, but most people just sit back and let injustices happen. Hayden Panettiere has proven that she is willing to commit the time and energy it takes to try and stop the horrid cruelty to dolphins and whales. It very rare especially in young Hollywood that people follow something that makes a difference. Hayden Panettiere is a personal hero of mine, as dolphins and whales have always been close to my heart.