"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere shed a few tears Saturday night for her efforts at not only saving the world, but saving the dolphins. Panettiere cried Saturday night when the Humane Society gave her an activism award for protesting the annual dolphin slaughter in Southwestern Japan.

Panettiere received the Gretchen Wyler Award, an award that is given annually to a celebrity who brings attention to animal causes. Wyler, who founded the awards and was also an actress, died last May from breast cancer, two months after presenting the first award to Paul McCartney.

Panettiere was accompanied to the awards show by her parents and "Heroes" co-star Milo Ventimiglia. During the presentation the audience watched a video of the actress and others paddling out on surfboards and confronting fishermen who trap and kill dolphins to protect their fish supply.

Panettiere was overcome by emotion and after giving her speech had to go to the bathroom and regain her composure. During her acceptance speech, Panettiere said, "As an actress, you always dream of getting awards like the Golden Globe award, but I never expected to get an award that is this special and important to me as this. There are people who dedicate their entire lives to preserving the environment and defending animals, they are so much more deserving of something like this."

After the actress regained her composure, she was escorted back to her seat by Ventimiglia.