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Twentieth Century Fox

Sure, we're excited about this Sunday's Academy Awards, but what's more important to those in the pet world? The Pawscars! This year, American Humane recognized several Oscar-nominated films for their commitment to keeping animals safe from harm on set.

Though the winning flicks didn't receive an award per se, the studios "are very happy that their films are recognized," communications director Jone Bouman tells PEOPLEPets.com. "The films we mentioned were good examples of films that took animal welfare seriously. They were rated 'outstanding' by American Humane." All of the movies honored received the "No Animals Were Harmed" end-credit disclaimer, certifying that a representative from American Humane was on set to make sure animals were treated with care.

And the winners are…

Avatar. Though actual animals weren't featured in the movie, the Na'vi "direhorses" (known as Pa'li) were created using motion-capture technology, based on the movements of real horses. According to American Humane, trainers shaved areas of hair where the movements would be recorded (near the joints and on the face) and attached Velcro to those spots using a non-irritating adhesive. That adhesive and any additional markings were washed off each evening after filming ended.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. A Neapolitan mastiff named Uno made her acting debut in the sixth film of this fantasy series. Adopted by her trainer, she came out of her shell (handlers think she'd been previously abused) and gained confidence in front of the camera.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Director Michael Bay actually cast his own dog in the action flick; the bullmastiff performed a few on-screen stunts as Megan Fox's character's pet. When American Humane staffers viewed a pre-release screening of the film, the pup sat by their feet, watching himself intently on screen.

Other films that earned honorable mentions (but aren't up for an Oscar) include The Hangover, which was recognized for its humane treatment of a tiger in a pivotal scene; Did You Hear About the Morgans?, which kept its human actors separate and safe from its very big bear actor; The Proposal, which used some hi-tech tricks to show an eagle taking flight with a puppy; Drag Me to Hell, which kept live goats and cats safe on set; and Hotel for Dogs, which used rescue pups throughout the film.

To catch the real thing, tune into the Academy Awards this Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

See more Oscar fun on PEOPLEPets.com:
5 Oscar Party Planning Tips for the Truly Fabulous Canine