Red-Carpet Canines

Posted on Nov 30, 2007 By Julia Szabo

In the VIP Lounge with Howard, Beth, and Tamar

Contenders for the Academy Awards haven't been announced yet, but North Shore Animal League America is ahead of the curve. Last night, the world's largest no-kill animal shelter held its second annual Oscars homage, the "DogCatemy Awards" gala, at the Manhattan club Capitale. Every film in the competition was a winner. As at the Oscars, everyone agreed it was an honor to be nominated; unlike the Oscars, the event didn't drag on too long, and attendees brought their dogs along to share the spotlight.

Categories included "Best Tail-Wagging Comedy," "Best Musical," and "Best in Show," and the red carpet was alight with celebrities on the order of Rachael Ray (who filmed a sweet homage to her pit bull Isaboo), Richard Belzer, Howard Stern and his fiancée, Beth Ostrosky, who serves as North Shore's tireless spokesperson, plus three more members of Stern's posse: a bulldog named Bianca; Robin Quivers; and Gary Dell'Abate, a.k.a. "Baba Booey," who made a hilarious film about his Vizsla.

Enthusiastic audience members cheering for the nominated films included renowned dog trainer Tamar Geller, Dr. Debbye Turner, young actor-filmmakers Josh Flitter and Hallie Kate Eisenberg, and movie-star-handsome fashion designer John Bartlett.

During the dinner, Geller embodied her "Loved Dog" philosophy by fork-feeding morsels of salmon to Tiny Tim, the three-legged "mutt-igree" Bartlett adopted from North Shore - lucky dog. Incidentally, the award for "Best Dogumentary" went to "Fashion Hound," a profile of Tiny Tim. The film was directed by (ahem) this blogger; watch it here.