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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 1, 1993                   TAG: 9212310074
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Beth Macy (staff)
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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A PET PROJECT

OK, we admit it, we laughed. We thought it was pretty funny when Durham, N.C., entrepreneur John Breen began hawking his latest concept this past summer: a Who's Who of American Pets.

Who would spend $35, we wondered, for a hardback chronicle of 1,200 pets? Well, the joke's on us, because, as Breen predicted, the book's a hoot.

It's simply must-have reading material for the bathroom . . . or the kitty-litter box.

While most of the entries are cats and dogs, "Who's Who of Animals" also features horses, rabbits, ferrets, iguanas, a cougar (Tigger), a miniature kangaroo (Dinky), a squirrel (Gus) and two pythons (Baby and Pete). The largest species is a moose (Ms. Mouse) from Wyoming; the smallest is a ladybug (Fred) from Iowa, who requires no pet food.

Roanoke pets include:

Bo Bandit Brightbill, a dog whose peculiarities include urinating on unpleasant cuisine (peas) and an insatiable desire to chase cars.

Rascal Ralph Bibb, a dog who recognizes 60 words and once prevented a fire by barking at a smoking extension cord.

Baby Garner, a cat who loves arranging artificial flowers and standing in bird baths in the rain.

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