Bradley Cooper Just Received the Best Director ‘Oscat’ for Casting His Dog in ‘A Star Is Born’

Bradley Cooper may not have gotten an Oscar nom for Best Director for A Star Is Born, but there’s another awards organization recognizing him for his directorial debut: PETA’s Oscat. 

Yes, you read that correctly. We’re talking about the animal rights group PETA, who (believe it or not) has a film and TV division that awards films and stars who promote animals through story lines and live imagery. 

So you might be asking yourself, why did Bradley Cooper get recognized and what did he win? On Tuesday, the organization released its second annual awards, and Cooper took home the award for Best Director. 

“For his enlightened decision to cast his own canine companion in A Star Is Born, rather than using one supplied by a notorious animal exhibitor,” PETA released in a statement. 

If you didn’t know, Cooper actually cast his own pup, Charlie (named after his late father), as Ally (Lady Gaga) and Jackson’s canine companion. I mean, who better to play your dog than your actual dog, right?

The 44-year-old actor isn’t the only one who was honored with an Oscat, however. Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her character in Vox Lux, where she sported an all-vegan wardrobe. And we can’t forget about Black Panther’s Winston Duke, who took home Best Actor for his role as vegetarian tribe leader M’Baku. 

Who needs an Oscar when you have an Oscat? Congrats to all of the animal-loving winners!