Miss USA 2004 delgates with Dream Pets at the Moonshadows Restaurant on April 3rd.

WOODLAND HILLS, CA � April 21, 2004 � As the weather warms up and posh garden parties and fabulous summer extravaganzas are on everybody's social calendar, the buzz around town is that no party is complete without the Dream Pets gang. All the rage in the fifties, the collectible vintage velveteen characters are making quite the come back � proving retro is always cool.

Making their nationwide retail debut this past week at specialty and gift stores such as Hallmark, Carlton Cards/American Greetings and Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores®, Dream Pets characters were officially re-introduced to a new generation of collectors, nostalgia buffs, and pet lovers, not to mention new fans, meeting them for the very first time.

Basking in the glory of their much-awaited return, the Dream Pets gang has been out with the stars at a variety of A-list events.

On April 3rd, the Dream Pets family hosted a moonlit dinner in Malibu for the Miss USA 2004 delegates who were in town for the Miss USA 2004 Pageant held at Los Angeles' Kodak Theater on Monday, April 12th. Compliments of the Dream Pets gang, close to 150 guests dined and danced the night away on the oceanfront at Moonshadows, one of Malibu's hottest restaurants.

Bob Solomon with Miss USA.

Bob Solomon, chairman, chief executive officer and chief dream officer of Applause presented each beautiful delegate with their very own Dream Pets travel case and character. A specially crafted Lucy Lamb was given to Miss USA 2003 Susie Castillo. The personalized Lucy Lamb was artfully exhibited in an acrylic display case with her very own Miss USA sash and sparkling tiara. This year's winner, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey also received a personalized Lucy Lamb Dream Pets character after receiving her crown.

The following week, on April 8th, the Dream Pets critters sponsored the Miss USA 2004 preliminaries held at the Kodak Theater. Each of the 1200 attendees received a collectible Dream Pets suitcase containing their very own Dream Pets character.

This past weekend, April 16-17, the Dream Pets family participated in The Silver Spoon Dog and Baby Buffet, a charity event held at the Fairbanks Estate in Hollywood, CA benefiting the Much Love Animal Rescue organization. The Dog and Baby Buffet attracts top-notch celebrities and their beloved dogs and babies who come to show their support for the Much Love Animal Rescue.

All attendees of this star-studded event received their very own Dream Pets personality in a signature Dream Pets case. A select group of Dream Pets cases were signed by celebrities and placed on Ebay to be auctioned off for charity. All proceeds go to the Much Love Animal Rescue.

"We are honored and thrilled to participate in these exciting events," said Bob Solomon. "The Dream Pets funsters are being received with open arms around the world and rekindling fond memories of their earlier presence in pop culture."

The new Dream Pets collection is available exclusively at gift and specialty stores nationwide and retails for approximately $7.99 each. For more information on Dream Pets and to meet your Dream Pets favorite, visit www.dreampets.com.

DREAM PETS ® & � 2004 R. Dakin & Company, a Division of Applause, LLC. All Rights Reserved.