FEATURE/Canine Crooner Belts Out "New York, New York" To Win Singing Pet Contest.

Features Editors/Veterinarian & Entertainment Writers

FEATURES...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Nov. 13, 2001

Owner and Dog Named "Best Duet" at Advantage(R) Flea Control Event

Raising $20,000 for Homeless Pets

The Advantage(R) Fast Friends Duets(SM) Finale today crowned a Sinatra-singing Sheltie named Buddy and his owner "Best Duet" for their rendition of "New York, New York," concluding a yearlong singing pet contest and an ongoing shelter adoption campaign. The Finale highlighted the nation's top 10 pet and owner duets, including a pup that sings to bagpipes and a Pomerian's pint-sized version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." It also brought animal lovers and pets together at an adopt-a-thon for cats and dogs from the Humane Society of New York (HSNY), many of whom found themselves homeless in the recent months. To encourage adoptions at today's event, Advantage(R) flea control donated $1,000 for each pet adopted, raising a total of $20,000 for the HSNY.

As an additional gesture of appreciation for their tireless work on behalf of injured and displaced pets, Advantage honored HSNY at the red carpet Finale, held at Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, with approximately $10,000 worth of Advantage flea control for the shelter's cats and dogs so the pets could enter their new homes flea-free.

"Buddy has always brought a note of joy to my life," says Jason Purinton. "I'm excited 20 lucky people today will get to enhance their lives by owning a new pet, and we're all thrilled to be supporting the great city of New York."

Buddy and Purinton beat out nine other tunefully talented cats and dogs that were chosen as finalists in Advantage Fast Friends Duets. The musical duo won a professional recording studio session, a year's supply of Advantage(R) (imidacloprid) Topical Solution from their veterinarian, a cash prize and the chance to appear in an advertisement for the product.

The Advantage Fast Friends Duets contest was conducted by Advantage flea control to promote shelter pet adoptions, as well as responsible pet care - which includes proper veterinary care and a consistent flea control regimen with Advantage, the fastest flea control.

On a flea control regimen with Advantage, cats, dogs and their owners can be confident that Advantage is the fastest flea control because it stops fleas from biting in minutes. In fact, Advantage kills 98-100 percent of existing fleas on pets within 12 hours of application and reinfesting fleas in two hours. It continues killing fleas after a shampooing, swimming or exposure to rain or sunlight and even kills flea larvae where pets sleep and play. Advantage also is gentle enough to be used on puppies as young as seven weeks and kittens as young as eight weeks of age.

Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, life sciences and chemical products that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks, protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability and improve people's lives.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion in 2000 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. The company employs 23,200 people. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $29 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany. The Bayer Group (BAYG.DE) stock is a component of the DAX, and is listed on multiple foreign exchanges.

For more information on the Advantage Fast Friends Duets contest and shelter adoption campaign, or to hear excerpts of the finalists, please visit www.nofleas.com.