TO STATE, ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY EDITORS:

     Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald From Animal Planet's Hit Series EMERGENCY VETS
       Discusses Pet Health and Awareness During Special Presentations

   Washington, DC-Area Residents Can Experience the 'Future of Television'
        And the Clarity of High-Definition in the Discovery HD Theater

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal Planet, Cox Communications and American Humane have teamed up to offer Washington, D.C.- 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 Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive in Centreville, Virginia from 10AM-4PM on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17. Please note that all pets must be on a leash.

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 videos 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. Washington, D.C.-area 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 animals and ask the animal handlers questions.

* Ranger Rick's KidZone. Includes face painting 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 adventurous poses with wild animals.

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 $1000 donation to the American Humane Association and $1500 donation to Friends of Homeless Animals.

Fairfax-area viewers can find Animal Planet on Cox Communication's channel # 78. EMERGENCY VETS airs Monday - Friday from 12:00PM-12:30PM, 12:30PM- 1:00PM, 4:00PM-4:30PM and 4:30PM-5:00PM (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, Florida (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 (NYSE: COX), a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications company serving approximately 6.3 million customers nationwide. Cox is the nation's fifth-largest cable television provider, and offers both traditional analog video programming under the Cox Cable brand as well as advanced digital video programming under the Cox Digital Cable brand. Cox provides an array of other communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high-speed Internet access under the brands Cox High Speed Internet and Cox Express; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. More information about Cox Communications Northern Virginia can be accessed on the Internet at www.cox.com/fairfax.

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.

SOURCE  Animal Planet