John Katsilometes gives paws for celebration at the annual ‘Best in Show’ event at the Orleans Arena, where 61 dogs were offered for adoption

Monday, June 5, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

The competition wasn't fixed, but many of the competitors were.

The fourth annual "Best In Show" canine appreciation event, during which dozens of shelter dogs from Lied Animal Shelter were put up for adoption, was held Sunday afternoon at the Orleans Arena. A total of 61 canines were offered for adoption, and the audience was estimated at around 2,000, both all-time highs for the event, "Best In Show" chairwoman Dale Wynn said during the program.

"I am an optimist. I think we'll have all 61 adopted," Wynn said. "We might have to take a few back to the shelter, but we've always been able to find homes for them, too. This year has been a real success - last year we had 35 or 40 dogs, and we've about tripled our (human) attendance."

Dogs were placed in Large, Medium and Small categories (though some of the more vocal Small dogs seemed to think they belonged in the Large group). The event drew an assortment of newsmakers: Performing as emcee was impeccably postured Cox Communications Vice President (and American Kennel Club judge) Steve Schorr; providing comedic repartee during the contest were Andrea Coli and Craig Uhlir; serving with Wynn as co-chairwomen were Janie Greenspun Gale and Jodi Fonfa; and honored as honorary co-chairwomen were Claudine Williams and Kitty Rodman.

Also finding their way into the mix were affable mike-gripper Robin Leach and column fave Carrot Top (aka Scott Thompson). Leach ably introduced Schorr and national anthem vocalist Christy Molasky. Carrot Top brought a few dog-themed props from his Luxor gig (including a "redneck dishwasher," which is a doggie dish connected to a dish rack).

Humans and dogs alike elicited laughter. The copper-maned Carrot Top claimed to be "a cross between an Irish setter and a poodle" and mentioned that he, too, was looking for a home. As a tiny mixed breed named Timmy scrambled into the show ring, Coli said, "Timmy weighs one-third of an ounce ... you can put him in a jewelry box." Uhlir added: "I've taken vitamins bigger than Timmy."

NoteMart

Oscar goes to ...: Saturday night's lineup for "Oscar's Night," an evening of revelry and hobnobbing for the 74th annual Conference of Mayors, which this year was hosted by the irreverent and fleet of foot Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas, featured some of the best Strip (and near-the-Strip) entertainers. Those taking part in the program at the Bellagio included Clint Holmes, the Scintas, Lance Burton, the cast of "Forever Plaid" and "Hairspray" lead Katrina Rose Dideriksen. Near the end of the program my close personal friend Wayne Newton toasted Oscar and Carolyn Goodman, who celebrate anniversary No. 44 this week ...

Coarse material: Stand-up comic and cancer survivor Robert Schimmel was back at the Monte Carlo over the weekend, almost six years to the day after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Always one to venture to the boundaries of good/bad taste, Schimmel is still using his Siegfried & Roy bit, which is simply brutal ...

The "plus" in PR Plus: The black leopard cub owned by illusionist Dirk Arthur requires regular care - even when Arthur is out of town from his "Xtreme Magic" show at the Tropicana. And when he's away, feeding duties fall to members of Arthur's PR team, PR Plus of Las Vegas. As PR Plus proprietor Laura Herlovich noted, the cub rips through turkey meat ...

Ad for the ages: You can always count on a good laugh from the full-page newspaper ads placed by 99 Cents Only stores in Las Vegas. The upper-right corner usually features something bizarre (once the ad congratulated Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, for winning the Tour de France). Last week the ad noted that the 99th birthday of Marilyn Monroe was approaching. Monroe's birthday was indeed celebrated Thursday - she would have been 80 ...

Frog in your throat? A colleague leapt at the chance to pass along the plate RRRIBIT, spotted on a tan Nissan Sentra.