July 14, 2007 – The dog days of summer were here this weekend, when celebrities came out to support adoptable animals on both coasts. In New York City, bitches and Broadway stars got together in Shubert Alley for Broadway Barks, an annual pet adoption benefit founded by animal lovers Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters. This year Angela Lansbury made the scene, as did some beloved TV stars of old, like Jo Anne Worley, of Laugh-In fame, who is appearing on the Great White Way in The Drowsy Chaperone. Another blast from the past was Jerry Mathers, best known as the star of the early-1960s sitcom Leave it to Beaver. The Beav is currently working on Broadway in Hairspray, the musical; next month, Lance Bass will join the cast at the Neil Simon Theater. Another TV-to-stage crossover, Lisa Rinna, who has been lending her dancing feet to Chicago, lent her heart to the adoptable critters on this gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in L.A., the Playboy mansion in Holmby Hills was filled with dogs for once! The bunnies were as beautiful as ever, but the mansion was the site for the Bow Wow Wow fundraiser, a benefit for Much Love Animal Rescue. Tori Spelling, who has been a big supporter of the organization, was on hand with her husband, Dean McDermott, who wore a kilt – perfect attire for the Playboy mansion. Hollywood animal lovers Hilary and Haylie Duff, Billy Baldwin and Dog Whisperer Cesar Milian romped with the dogs (and the Playboy bunnies). Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez was at the West Coast event – interestingly, her career really skyrocketed after she won a Tony Award in 2005 for her role in the Broadway musical Spamalot.

Broadwaybarks.com

Muchlove.org