Cashpoint pooch tipped for a Golden Bone in doggy Oscars

And the winner is ... cocking his leg against a pot plant. The awards ceremony known as the Oscars of the dog world took place in Manchester last night, with the stars fluffed up and on their best behaviour.

And the winner is ... cocking his leg against a pot plant. The awards ceremony known as the Oscars of the dog world took place in Manchester last night, with the stars fluffed up and on their best behaviour.

The rough-and-ready Bruce Willis role was played by Frodo the labrador, who fetches money from the cash machine for his wheelchair bound owner - a hot contender for Working Dog of the Year. The aristocratic Crufts champion Scarfe Michael, haughty as Jeremy Irons in his pomp, was favourite for the Show Dog prize.

Like the agents behind their Hollywood counterparts, owners held a short leash and prayed that their charges would behave. In their world, the American version of which is portrayed in the new comedy film Best In Show, embarassing spillage is more of a risk than plunging cleavage; and whining at the podium far more likely than an over-emotional acceptance speech.

The Golden Bone awards ceremony and ball was held at the Radisson hotel last night in aid of the Pet Role Trust, which distributes cash to smaller, lesser known animal charities such as Manchester Dogs Home. Stars from EastEnders and Coronation Street turned out to honour the actors Pam St Clement, Roy Barraclough, and Bill Roache, who apparently give a lot of their spare time to promote the doggie cause. The awards ceremony was organised by Kevin Horkin, who provides animals for television programmes.

Undoubted star attraction of the charity auction was "an original signed portrait of the Duchess of York and her dog". It was "absolutely unique", said David Cavill, one of the organisers. He was equally enthusiastic about the prizes themselves. "They are specially-cast acrylic tablets on a base, with the Golden Bone logo embedded in them slightly."

Mr Cavill publishes Our Dogs, a weekly magazine for people who take part in dog shows all over Britain. The readers combined with those of Dog World, another weekly publication, to vote for the winners in a number of categories.

As well as awards for the best show, breeder, writer and judge of the year, there were Golden Bones for their favourite charities and dog food companies. Canine Personality of the Year looked set to go to Rupert, a star of television ads who helped his owner to safety when she suffered a heart attack.

Perhaps the most remarkable story was that of Frodo, the four-year-old chocolate-coloured labrador, who lives with Stephanie Pengelly in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Mrs Pengelly, 47, uses crutches indoors and a wheelchair outside, because of a spinal fusion.

Frodo wakes his owner in the morning, pulls her up, then fetches her slippers and crutches. If there is washing to be dried, he pulls it out of the machine before dragging the basket on to the patio where she can hang it. Then he fetches pegs. "He has given me back my independence," she said. "If he wasn't there I would need a carer with me all day."