If you live anywhere in the Las Vegas area and are a dog lover I sure hope you managed to get to the Orleans Arena yesterday and attend this fundraising event hosted by the Animal Foundation. It was tremendous. But you ask - who were the winners. Well, some would say the winners are all the fur friends that got adopted yesterday. Still others would say that it is the Animals Foundation that won. After all, they ran a very successful event, raised money to help them with their continued efforts, and did a great job bringing attention not only to the plight of shelter pets, but also to the advantages and shear joy of adopting a shelter pet. So maybe the winners are actually all of the families that went home with a new four-legged family member at the end of the event! I guess everybody won.
But some of the dogs that actually received honors in the show may want me to give them their due publicity. So - here it goes.
But some of the dogs that actually received honors in the show may want me to give them their due publicity. So - here it goes.
The Small Dog Category
 Meet SLINKY. This 19 month old, red, long haired Dachshund took the title of Best in Group for the Small Dog Group. |  This handsome young fellow was adopted at the end of the ceremonies and was able to go home with his new family. |
The Variety Pack Category
Meet Georgia. This 5 month old, female, beautiful, brindle Dutch Shepherd walked away with the Best in Group title for the Variety Pack. Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of her with her new family. But good job Georgia!
The Medium Dog Category
 Nabu is a 6 month old, female, German Shepherd / Husky mix who had the honor of strutting away with the Best in Group title for the Medium Dog Category. |  Nabu's day got even better when she received an even bigger award - her new family! |
The Large Dog Category
How handsome are the two dogs below. No wonder the audience was simply split down the middle resulting in a tie for the honor of Best in Group for the Large Dog Category.
 This is RUFUS! Great name. Rufus was presented as a Saint Bernard mix - which is clearly the correct description. But from my spot on the floor I was able to eavesdrop on many audience members. And I really has to laugh listening to them try to guess what the 'mix' might be. |  LANUK is unbelievably handsome and this picture just doesn't do him justice! He's a one year old Siberian Husky with the most gorgeous markings and captivating eyes I've ever seen on a dog. Like I said - the audience just couldn't choose between these two - they tied for the honor. |
AND NOW - BEST IN SHOW
 OK - Rufus won Best in Show. How could he not? I mean - what an impressive animal. And like Nabu Rufus also won the hearts of a new family that day. See the pictures of Rufus and his people to the right. | 
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You might think awarding Best in Show AND having that dog find his new family would be both the highlight of and the end of the day - right? Wrong!
One of the many auctions of the day included the 'Pick of the Litter' title. The winner of this auction was able to choose any dog that has appeared in the show that day and take him home. Well, the bidding went on, and on and on. . . And I think it only stopped when everyone in the audience realized how desperately this young family wanted to win and how much their dad wanted to win it for them. The bidding stopped at $3,000.And the winner was . . .
None of the dogs that even placed in the group competitions. But instead, an adorable, little, 3 month old, terrier mix appropriately named Benji. So here's Benji with his new family.
One of the many auctions of the day included the 'Pick of the Litter' title. The winner of this auction was able to choose any dog that has appeared in the show that day and take him home. Well, the bidding went on, and on and on. . . And I think it only stopped when everyone in the audience realized how desperately this young family wanted to win and how much their dad wanted to win it for them. The bidding stopped at $3,000.And the winner was . . .
None of the dogs that even placed in the group competitions. But instead, an adorable, little, 3 month old, terrier mix appropriately named Benji. So here's Benji with his new family.
