Shon
06-27-2004, 11:00 PM
Talented dogs performed tricks to win a spot on 'Pet Stars'
BURLINGTON - There were skunks on horseback, a basset hound in a ball gown, a piano-playing toy fox terrier; a black pup swatting a balloon with his nose and a rat running around atop a dog.
More than 30 animal acts, owners in tow, showed up in Boone Woods Park Sunday to audition for Pet Stars on cable's Animal Planet. The audition was part of the Pet Fest fund-raiser for Friends of the Shelter, Inc.Pets, mostly dogs, were auditioning for a slot on the show and a chance to win $25,000. Four acts impressed producer HeidiMarie Pagliassotto enough to ask them to return for an encore without the crowds.
Spencer LaCoCo, a Rhodesian ridge back/pit bull mix owned by John Flowers of Lexington, is already guaranteed a spot on the show. Spencer jumped on a sawhorse and balanced on four paws, then reared back and balanced on his rear paws only. He repeated the act on the rim of a 55-gallon drum. Then he swung on a tightrope strung between two poles. "He's already on the show, for sure," Pagliassotto said.
Flowers and his dog Red finished fourth on the show last year.
Stage fright was a problem. A cocker spaniel who wears cowboy gear and plays dead said no. A mixed breed who sings to harmonica music didn't.
But those who performed, well, they performed. Terri Rolenkotter of Union, Ky., had her basset hounds Chloe and Rain dressed in medieval fantasy outfits. As she read about the beautiful princess and the dragon, the dogs acted it out perfectly.
Tinker Bell, the toy fox terrier, owned by Laurie Davis of Goshen, did a fine job on a little kiddie piano. She also pushed a toy car.
BURLINGTON - There were skunks on horseback, a basset hound in a ball gown, a piano-playing toy fox terrier; a black pup swatting a balloon with his nose and a rat running around atop a dog.
More than 30 animal acts, owners in tow, showed up in Boone Woods Park Sunday to audition for Pet Stars on cable's Animal Planet. The audition was part of the Pet Fest fund-raiser for Friends of the Shelter, Inc.Pets, mostly dogs, were auditioning for a slot on the show and a chance to win $25,000. Four acts impressed producer HeidiMarie Pagliassotto enough to ask them to return for an encore without the crowds.
Spencer LaCoCo, a Rhodesian ridge back/pit bull mix owned by John Flowers of Lexington, is already guaranteed a spot on the show. Spencer jumped on a sawhorse and balanced on four paws, then reared back and balanced on his rear paws only. He repeated the act on the rim of a 55-gallon drum. Then he swung on a tightrope strung between two poles. "He's already on the show, for sure," Pagliassotto said.
Flowers and his dog Red finished fourth on the show last year.
Stage fright was a problem. A cocker spaniel who wears cowboy gear and plays dead said no. A mixed breed who sings to harmonica music didn't.
But those who performed, well, they performed. Terri Rolenkotter of Union, Ky., had her basset hounds Chloe and Rain dressed in medieval fantasy outfits. As she read about the beautiful princess and the dragon, the dogs acted it out perfectly.
Tinker Bell, the toy fox terrier, owned by Laurie Davis of Goshen, did a fine job on a little kiddie piano. She also pushed a toy car.