Photos: Cher’s crystal canine garners top bid at Best in Show

Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Holly Madison and Terry Fator at The Animal Foundation’s Best in Show at The Orleans on May 23, 2010.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Monday, May 24, 2010 | 4:39 p.m.

The Animal Foundation's 2010 Best in Show

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Plaster Cast Dogs

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Superstar entertainer Cher added all the sparkle and proved to be a financial windfall for our 7th Annual Animal Foundation Best in Show yesterday at The Orleans Arena. Mirage headliner Terry Fator and Peepshow star Holly Madison hosted the parade of puppies ,with both stars leading the pleading for adoptions.

The doggies may well have stolen the hearts of the 4,000 in attendance with 60 animals up for adoption, but it was Cher’s incredible 11,520 Swarovski crystal-decorated plaster cast dog that stole the wallet!

The pop diva came up with the idea for the shining canine in her glittery and sequined Bob Mackie costumes that she wears in her current headliner show at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. Bob worked with her on the crystal-studded ceramic dog, and the pair autographed its backside as the ultimate souvenir.

I was invited to boost the auction, and the bidding grew fast and furious. At $6,000, it looked as if the one-upmanship would never end. But then Cindy Doumani said she’d pay $6,100, and that clinched the deal.

Cindy, who has been a Las Vegas resident for 46 years, thanked me and said: “I’m a huge Cher fan, but Bob Mackie, her designer, worked on this with her, and I have many of his gowns at home. Eventually, this incredible dog will be left for my children, but when I go to actually meet Cher next month from another auction item she donated that I also bought, I will tell her I now own her dog!”

Casts of numerous Strip shows had decorated plaster dogs. There was a Lion King dog, a Ka dog and a very colorful Mystere firebird dog. I fell for Holly’s Peepshow dog and Lance Burton’s magic dog, and with AmEx to the rescue, they are now standing guard at my front door.

We raised another $12,000 in raffle ticket sales for a donated black and white diamond brooch, and America’s Got Talent winner Terry purchased a diamond dog paw necklace in the auction now worn by girlfriend Taylor Makakoa.

Photographer Denise Truscello and contributing photographer Scott Harrison kindly provided their shots of the event to go with some of my own candids. Many of the Las Vegas VIPs and hotel executives attended the festive event, which started with sixth-grader Josie Molasky singing the national anthem for the first time solo.

I hope we topped $250,000 to support the Lied Animal Shelter, which takes in some 50,000 homeless, lost, neglected, unwanted, abused and abandoned animals each year. That’s more than 1,345 every day, and last year, the shelter cared for 4,000 more animals than New York City, America’s most populated city and four times larger than Las Vegas.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.