No bones about it

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Beagles in bonnets. Shepherds in shirts. Poodles in

pants. Humiliating, sure, but it’s all in good fun and for a very good

cause.

For the ninth year, “canine couture” will overrun Newport Dunes

Waterfront Resort on Saturday when the Top Dog Fashion Show begins at 11

a.m. But this year, in addition to helping the Orange County SPCA and

Companion Pet Retreat, rescue dogs in New York will also benefit.

Owners enter their pets in the tongue-in-cheek fashion show and their

$7 entry fees ($11 on the day of event) in part benefits the animal

rescue agencies. The fund-raiser usually brings in less than $1,000. But

a main goal is to raise awareness for animal causes -- and dressing dogs

up as people has proved an effective attention getter.

“It’s very festive, really a fun-filled thing for the family to do,”

said Andrew Theodorou, Newport Dunes general manager. “Hopefully this

time it will be really patriotic too.”

This year, organizers decided to have a “doggy bank” for donations to

the American Rescue Dog Assn. The group’s trained animals helped rescue

workers locate victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

KIIS-FM radio personality Gary “The Spearman” Spears will be host as

dressed-up dogs compete for prizes for their owners that include trips,

dinners and other items.

Pups of all ages, breeds and sizes will sport fashions in such

categories as most elegant formal wear, best casual wear, most striking

lingerie or pajamas, finest swimwear, Halloween costume and -- perhaps

even spookier -- master and pet look-alike. In the past, some dogs have

even come as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

“Being close to Halloween, we get a lot of present and past costumes,”

Theodorou said. “It makes it that much more fun.”

FYI

* WHAT: Ninth annual Top Dog Fashion Show

* WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday * WHERE: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive * COST: Free to attend. Preregistration of pets in competition is $7;

same-day registration is $11. Parking is $7.