There was the tux-wearing, alien-fighting dog.

The dog that looked suspiciously like a fox.

And, amazingly, a dog that opened up a small refrigerator and got her owner a bottled drink.

In the third Alaska Pet Idol contest on Saturday, a throng of at least 100 whistling and hooting pet fans watched 15 dogs walk a red carpet and step onto a balloon-decorated stage at the Alaska Mill and Feed warehouse in Anchorage to compete for food, gift certificates and other prizes.

The contest, which raised money for the Friends of Pets nonprofit group, was created by Mill and Feed staff who were inspired by the American Idol TV show.

Pet Idol isn't unique to Alaska. There are other similar-named pet contests scattered all over the country, from Arizona to New York. Unlike the TV show, or a bona-fide election, Pet Idol watchers pay for the privilege to vote: in Alaska, 50 cents each.

Yes, ballot-stuffing is allowed, even encouraged. Pet Idol is a fundraiser, after all. The more votes, the more money raised for Friends of Pets' volunteer programs, including animal rescue, adoption and a spay-neuter program.

On Saturday, the judges picked the top three dogs based on personality, tricks, grooming and crowd appeal.

It quickly became obvious that the pets with the biggest fan sections -- and who generated the most votes during the semifinals -- were shoo-in winners.

First-place winner Shelby, a bull mastiff, rocked the contest by getting more than 1,000 of the 4,830 votes, organizers said.

And if votes weren't enough to indicate support for Shelby, the dog's fans had other stratagems: they waved pro-Shelby signs in the front row, blew kazoos, clapped and cheered loudly whenever someone mentioned her name.

Shelby's trick was to demonstrate a safe exit during a simulated fire.

Shelby's trainer Gail Painter stretched a large banner across the stage with flames and smoke painted on it and invited children to join Shelby on the stage.

Then, she ordered Shelby to crawl to her. Lowering her belly, Shelby led four boys under the simulated smoke.

DOG IDOLS

Even though other pets competed in Alaska Pet Idol, only dogs made it to Saturday's final round.

At 1 p.m., the 15 semifinalists took turns on the stage while KMXS-FM disc jockey Joe Campbell recited the dogs' biographies to the crowd and played peppy music.

At a table, a judging panel watched intently and scribbled on grading sheets as each contestant strutted its stuff.

Once under the stage lights, some of the dogs had a hard time concentrating and leaped off the stage into the audience. Others seemed destined for the Pet Idol nationals -- if there was such a thing.

One of the best performers was third-place winner Skipper, a 2-year-old husky mix rescued as a puppy from under a trailer during winter on the North Slope, according to his owner.

Skipper continually reared up on his back legs and waved his "arms" rather than his tail at the amused crowd of spectators. "Just to get attention," explained owner Chelsey Homan, who owns the organic pet snack company Doggy Decadents.

Among his many tricks, Skipper played a shell game.

Homan set out plastic cups, put a treat under one of them and shuffled the cups around.

Most of the time, Skipper set his paw on the right cup.

Find Elizabeth Bluemink online at adn.com/contact/ebluemink or call 257-4317.

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