Animal Planet, Cox Communications and American Humane Invite San Diego-Area Residents to Participate in ANIMAL PLANET EXPO.

Entertainment Editors/Lifestyle Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2003

Presented by Merial, the Makers of FRONTLINE(R) and HEARTGARD(R) Plus

(Ivermectin/Pyrantel) at Embarcadero Marina Park North; Fun and Free

Event for the Entire Family, Including Pets

-- Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald From Animal Planet's Hit Series EMERGENCY

VETS Discusses Pet Health and Awareness During Special

Presentations

-- San Diego Residents Can Experience the "Future of Television"

and the Clarity of High-Definition in the Discovery HD Theater

Animal Planet, Cox Communications and American Humane have teamed up to offer San Diego-area residents ANIMAL PLANET EXPO, presented by Merial, the makers of FRONTLINE(R) and HEARTGARD(R) Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel).

This animal-friendly event is packed with activities and special guests the whole family can enjoy, including the pets. Created to educate and entertain animal lovers of all ages, ANIMAL PLANET EXPO will be open to the public at Embarcadero Marina Park North in Seaport Village at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22.

Since 1998, hundreds of thousands of people from around the country have experienced ANIMAL PLANET EXPO's unique combination of information and entertainment. ANIMAL PLANET EXPO has expanded this year to include many new features that will provide an even greater and more interactive, animal-friendly experience for participants. ANIMAL PLANET EXPO features the following activity pavilions:

-- ANIMAL PLANET EXPO Theater. Features high-drama animal rescue

movie with audio and visual special effects. The theater also

showcases special presentations by Dr. Fitzgerald from Animal

Planet's series EMERGENCY VETS, as well as question and answer

sessions with Animal Planet Rescue officers.

-- Discovery HD Theater. Demonstrates the crispness and clarity

that only high definition television can offer and takes Expo

participants on a journey through the "Future of Television."

-- FRONTLINE(R) & HEARTGARD(R) Plus E-Vet Clinic. San

Diego-residents are encouraged to bring their pets, meet Dr.

Fitzgerald and receive information about keeping their pets

safe and healthy.

-- American Humane Tent. Learn about the heroic relief efforts of

animal rescuers.

-- Center Stage. Showcases animal handler presentations, dog

agility demonstrations and Animal Planet trivia contests.

-- Animal House. Allows visitors to get up close and personal

with some exotic animals and ask the animal handlers

questions.

-- Ranger Rick's KidZone. Includes face painting, arts and crafts

and a 45-foot climbing wall for kids to experience a simulated

animal rescue.

-- Digital Photo Center. Participants can create digital photos

of themselves in an adventurous pose with a wild animal.

Visitors can also bring their pets to the "Pet Watering Hole" where they can cool off in the shade. Upon arrival, attendees will be greeted with program guides and theater passes.

As part of the ANIMAL PLANET EXPO program, Cox Communications will make a $1,000 donation to the American Humane Association and $1,500 donation to the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. Cox Communications will also be providing information about their latest products available to consumers.

San Diego-area viewers can find Animal Planet on Cox Communications' channel #72. EMERGENCY VETS airs Monday - Friday from 12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m(ET).

More information on the ANIMAL PLANET EXPO can be found at www.animalplanetrescue.com.

From the first disaster relief mission during the rampant wildfires of Flagler County, Fla. (May 1998) that rescued animals ranging from birds to iguanas, to last summer's assistance of animals threatened by the Arizona wildfires (June 2002), ANIMAL PLANET RESCUE has come to the aid of more than 1,000 pets and animals nationwide. Developed in partnership with American Humane, ANIMAL PLANET RESCUE is an 80-foot disaster relief vehicle that comes to the aid of animals threatened by natural disasters. The state-of-the-art rig is a veterinary hospital and shelter on wheels with sleeping quarters for up to 12 people, a mobile veterinary clinic, a four-wheel drive ambulance, three rescue rafts and a high-tech command center.

Animal Planet, available in more than 81 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network's original programming brings together people of all ages by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals and providing an entertaining mix of programming including original movies, adventure series, sports, drama and sitcoms. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications Inc., operates and manages the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, the Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel and Discovery Kids. The unit also distributes BBC AMERICA. Visit Animal Planet on the Web by going to www.discovery.com and clicking on Animal Planet.

Cox Communications is a full-service telecommunications provider, serving 537,000 customers and employing 2,400 individuals throughout San Diego County. The company offers an array of services, including Cox Cable, Cox Digital Cable, Cox High Speed Internet, local and long distance telephone through Cox Digital Telephone, Entertainment on Demand, Cox High Definition Cable, and Cox Business Services. Cox Communications also owns and operates Channel 4 San Diego, the television home of the Padres and award-winning local programming. To date, the company has deployed more than 70,000 glass miles of fiber optic cable. The nation's fourth-largest cable television company, Cox Communications serves approximately 6.3 million customers nationwide. It has been operating in San Diego County since 1961.

FRONTLINE brand products are the no. 1 choice of veterinarians for flea-and-tick control on dogs and cats. It is the only topically applied, long-lasting, waterproof, once-a-month treatment for dogs and cats that kills both fleas and all major disease-carrying ticks for at least one month. For more information about FRONTLINE, visit http://www.frontline.com/ or see your veterinarian.

HEARTGARD(R) Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), when used as directed, is 100 percent effective against heartworm disease in dogs and also treats and controls gastrointestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, which may be transmitted to people. HEARTGARD Plus is the number-one choice among veterinarians and is approved for all breeds, even pregnant or breeding dogs, and puppies 6 weeks of age or older. For protection against heartworms and treatment and control of other internal parasites, HEARTGARD Plus should be administered orally at monthly intervals.

For more information about HEARTGARD Plus, visit http://www.heartgard.com or see your veterinarian.

HEARTGARD is well tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD, digestive and neurological side effects were reported.

Members of the press interested in attending ANIMAL PLANET EXPO who would like to obtain more information or interview ANIMAL PLANET EXPO staff or the emergency vets onsite should contact Laleh Rafiee at 310/291-6840.