Las Vegas really has gone to dogs

With White House puparazzi chasing their tails to get photos of first dog Bo, for Bo Diddley, we checked to see what names local celebrities gave their pets.

Cher has a cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, named after the fluffy feline in the "Austin Powers" movie. It was found backstage as an abandoned kitten 10 years ago during her "Believe" tour.

Harrah's headliner Rita Rudner has a Chinese crested goldendoodle that was named Twinkle by daughter Molly.

"Our last dog, Bonkers, was named after my grandfather, who was insane," Rudner said.

During a visit to Robert and Vera Goulet's home almost 10 years ago, I was introduced to their menagerie of almost a dozen cats and dogs. Among the furry freeloaders: Genny and Arthur, two Akitas who got their names from the characters Queen Guinevere and King Arthur in the 1960 Broadway hit, "Camelot." Goulet played Sir Lancelot and named one of his cats after his character.

Illusionists Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn rescued seven dogs and named them Amigo, Viking, Happy, Feliz, Jolie, Anna Magdalena and Nembia.

Hotel developer Steve Wynn has two German shepherds, Palo and Tari, a male and female who are bilingual. Wynn speaks commands in German and converses with them in English.

Local attorney and KNPR food critic John Curtas bestowed the name Primo on his cat, after an irascible chef in "Big Night," a film about two Italian brothers, Primo and Secondo, who open a restaurant in America.

Encore headliner Danny Gans' purebred black Lab, Kadie, is "so regal we call her The Queen." Kadie's running mate, a cockapoo named Molly, is "the exact opposite. We call him the Court Jester."

Former "Erocktica" lead singer Gabriella Versace, currently lead singer for the band Nitro, has a miniature Doberman pinscher she named Rio, home of "Erocktica's" at the time.

Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KVBC-TV, Channel 3, is rarely seen without one of her four dogs, whether she's on the air, on assignment or on the town. Pearlie-Faye is a smooth-haired miniature dachshund named for Jacobs two grandmothers; Bojangles and Sparkle are long-haired miniature dachshunds, and recent addition Star, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, goes everywhere in luxury. Jacobs takes her to events in a custom-made dog carrier.

Flamingo headliner Marie Osmond named her Maltese teacup Lola.

Sometimes a name comes quite by accident. Joelle Jenson, the lead magician's assistant in Lance Burton's Monte Carlo show, has a chow named Corona. Shortly after the dog arrived at her home, somebody spilled a Corona and the dog lapped it up.

Jesse Garon, who spent several years as Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's designated Elvis impersonator, named his two pugs Little Richard and Spanky. "I'm a big Little Richard fan and Spanky because I've got to spank his ass."

Garon takes them with him on top-down cruises in his 1955 pink Cadillac convertible previously owned by Lucille Ball.

"Good way to get dates," drawled Garon.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

"Dancing With the Stars" professional dancer Chelsea Hightower, who had a formidable challenge in teaching Steve-O, is a niece of former Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield. The duo were voted off the show Tuesday night, but she should be nominated for sainthood. ...

Jamie Foxx told Jay Leno on Tuesday about a harrowing flight to Las Vegas last December. He said the plane pitched down so violently that he could see trees through the cockpit window from his seat. He was on his way here for his birthday party Dec. 13.

SIGHTINGS

Micky Dolenz, former member of The Monkees and recent "Gone Country"star, hanging out Tuesday night at Blush Boutique Nightclub inside Wynn. ... The cast of VH1's "Tool Academy," on the town at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday. Also in the house: former boxing champ Fernando Vargas.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Is there enough swash in my buckle?" -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Becoming A Somali Pirate."

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.