FIRST OFF . . .

Animal lover Bob Barker quit as host of the annual “Patsy Awards” show this week, criticizing the American Humane Assn. for “producing a telecast that honors trainers who may have used cruel training methods i preparing their animals to perform.” The veteran TV emcee, who hosted the last five “Patsy” animal awards shows, told the Humane Assn. in a letter: “I have become increasingly concerned about reports of cruelty to animals. “I was a little surprised and startled by his decision,” Carmelita Pope, the associations’s Los Angeles director, said Wednesday. “We have nothing to do with the training at all. Our job begins when the animals arrive on the set.” Barker recently threatened to quit as host of the Miss USA beauty pageant over a decision to adorn contestants in animal pelts.