BETH STERN MEETS AMERICA'S MOST EXTRAVAGANTLY FUSSED-OVER FURRY FRIENDS IN NAT GEO WILD'S NEW SERIES "SPOILED ROTTEN PETS"

Owners Spare No Expense Pampering Tortoises and Pigs; Hosting Elaborate "Bark Mitzvahs"; and Indulging Pets With Custom Spa Treatments, Clothing and Accessories

New Series Premieres Saturday, April 20, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD

(Washington, D.C. - February 28, 2013) A Pomeranian is lifted up as her owners dance at her very own lavish "bark mitzvah." A pair of potbellied pigs get the red-door treatment from a "pig-tician" at a pig spa and resort. Fawned-over ferrets are dressed up for a costume contest at an annual ferret fashion show. These are just some of the real-life, over-the-top examples of the excessive and extravagant lengths to which some pet owners will go for their furry, feathered and sometimes fanged friends.

Nat Geo WILD spotlights some of the most outrageous and hilarious examples of pets that are completely and utterly spoiled rotten by owners who know it, and own it, in the wildly fun new series Spoiled Rotten Pets, hosted by Beth Stern, premiering Saturday, April 20, at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NGC_PR.

The owner (and spoiler) of numerous pets herself, Stern is a popular television host, model, best-selling author of "OH MY DOG," animal advocate and spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill shelter/adoption organization. She's right at home visiting other owners who lavish attention on their catered-to critters in such an immeasurable fashion that even she doesn't know where it might end.

"I thought I was an avid pet lover, but I really had no idea the extremes people will go to for their beloved animals," said Stern. "I am having so much fun meeting these owners and their spoiled rotten pets, and even participating in some of the spoiling!"

Not content to simply sit back and watch, Stern rolls up her sleeves and gets down and dirty to experience what it means to be in these pet-pampering moments. From training alongside a "pig-tician" to dressing a furry friend for her "bark mitzvah," and from shaking her own tail feathers at a canine freestyle dance class to preparing a retiring ferret for his final fashion show experience - there is no pampering avenue that Stern won't explore to give viewers a front-row seat in the world of spoiling pets rotten.

The series profiles many different types of pets, their pampering and their personable owners, no matter how unconventional the pet. Whether it's snakes and reptiles or rats and ferrets, Spoiled Rotten Pets explores the myriad ways in which pets can be spoiled and the lengths to which the pet owners will go to ensure that their pets are prized! A birthday party where rats dress up in party costumes? Check. A donkey picnic? Check. A creative calendar with lizard models? Check. Custom-made diapers for your pet duck? Check. They are all part of Stern's journey to find the nation's most lovingly spoiled pets.

Premiere Episodes Include:

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Princess & The Pig
Premieres Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
"I fully admit, I put Tasha first. I buy her the better clothes. She gets the better food, and
I eat peanut butter sandwiches. She gets the grooming, and I do my own hair at home."
- Susan on spoiling her Maltese Yorkie, Tasha, in Manhattan
Host Beth Stern accompanies Dave and Jennifer along with their "girls," potbellied pigs Wilma and Pebbles, to Ross Mill Farms, the only full-service pet pig spa and boarding facility in the world. Once there, Beth tries her hand at becoming a "pig-tician" and experiences all the spoiling that happens at this grandiose getaway. Meanwhile, Dominic and Shannon are raising a pretty pampered clan, complete with small children and more than 100 reptiles - all under the same roof! From pythons to turtles and lizards to crocodiles, this family knows how to spoil their scaly sidekicks. Finally, dog lover Susan and her Morkie (Maltese Yorkie) Tasha attend regular "pup scouts" meetings in Manhattan. Tasha wears a meticulous scout uniform and earns badges that show all her accomplishments; from art work to tricks to swimming to community service.

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Ferrets & Tiaras
Premieres Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
"I think Madonna adores me, but I think we have a love-hate relationship."
- Cornelia on her relationship with her pet donkey, Madonna, in Old Westbury, N.Y.
Beth travels to Chicago to visit Pam and Perry, who have two ferrets, Mr. Binky and Lola, competing at The Greatest Ferret Show on Earth, an exciting annual event for ferret lovers. At the convention, Beth checks out the competition and nervously awaits Mr. Binky and Lola's performances. Meanwhile, in New York City, Cynthia wants to do everything for her spoiled pooch Toto, no matter how unconventional it may appear. That's where Madrette the Paw Reader comes in, to do a reading for Toto so Cynthia can ensure that she's not missing anything from Toto's list of needs. Finally, how about a picnic lunch with Madonna? Madonna the donkey, that is. This "bad ass" knows how to kick up a fuss, but owner Cornelia can't stop loving her, no matter how much trouble she causes.

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Reigning Rats & Dogs
Premieres Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
"Someone once said to me, 'You sleep with rats?' I said, 'Well, I've slept with far worse!'"
- Diane on her relationship with her 10 pet rats in Ashland, N.Y.
Beth visits Sharon in Montauk, N.Y., who loves Afghan dogs so much that she has six of them! The pups are all spoiled, but Sharon has a favorite named Aiden, whom she calls her "gifted" dog. Beth discovers that Aiden and Sharon even attend dancing classes together, and is invited along so she can see the "doggy dancing" herself. Also in this episode, one man's pests are another woman's pets! Diane has 10 rats - just like you would see in a laboratory or scurrying through the subway - that she pampers, plays with and even throws elaborate parties for. Finally, Dale, her husband and two kids share their home with 16 bearded dragons. The family loves to pamper their dragons, and they even set up a yearly photo shoot to create their annual family dragon calendar.

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Bark Mitzvah
Premieres Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
"At first people think that we're absolutely crazy; however, it's a great way to celebrate our children."
- Donna and Dave on planning "bark mitzvahs" for their dogs in Stanhope, N.J.
Beth pays a visit to Donna and Dave, owners of Nicky and Sophia, two Pomeranian dogs. This Jewish family previously threw a "bark mitzvah" for Nicky, and now it's Sophia's turn. Beth helps Sophia choose the right flowers, the best-tasting cake and, of course, her special outfit. Donna and Dave spare no expense on a wonderful celebration for family and friends. Also, meet Marissa, who spoils her cats so much that she can't bear to ever leave them alone. Marissa is so worried about their long-term care that she visits her lawyer to include them in her will. Finally, Diane gathers her 17 turtles and tortoises with her boyfriend and her dad to enjoy good food, the outdoors and some seriously coddled company at a very special turtle brunch.

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Lucky Ducks
Premieres Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
"Victor and Ming Mae have very particular tastes, so I have made all of [their] outfits;
we like to make them a little sparkly and add a little flare."
- Nettie on dressing her two pet ducks in Chicago, Ill.
Beth tours a picturesque farm in New Jersey with owner Mike and his companion, Chase, the supposed "working" dog on the farm. Except that's not what Beth finds as she picks corn and pumpkins while this lazy dog hangs out on "fly patrol." The spoiled canine heads to an exclusive animal inn to get back in shape. Nettie and Alex in Chicago have turned two winged creatures into some seriously lucky ducks. Their feathered friends have clothes designed for them; enjoy nail polish and bath treats; and even go on bike outings with their owners! Finally, Jess and Eric became so obsessed with spoiling their three dogs that they made an entire business out of it. They opened the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company in Boonton, N.J., and their dogs Bubba, Rose and Earl have the best jobs of all - as their official taste testers!

Spoiled Rotten Pets: Barking Bride
Premieres Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
"Franklin definitely garners more attention than Liza and I when we walk,
but you've gotta know that going into walking with such a handsome pig as Franklin is."
- Joe on his pot-bellied pig in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Beth visits Fionna, who is having a bachelorette party with all the trimmings the day before her wedding to Chico. This all sounds perfectly normal, until you realize that Fionna and Chico are dogs! Chico's owners Kathy and Greg join Fionna's owner Lori to celebrate this love affair gone to the dogs. Then, meet Franklin - the ultimate apartment-dwelling hipster from Brooklyn, N.Y., who also happens to be a pot-bellied pig! His owners Liza and Joe pamper this pig so much that he even goes to work with Joe at the hardware store. Franklin's good for business, as customers sometimes come just to lavish attention on him. Finally, meet a pair of ferrets, Gaby and Bella, who know all about striking the right chord with their owners, Tammy and John, who insist on treating them like princesses, going so far as to sing for them in harmony.

Spoiled Rotten Pets is produced for Nat Geo WILD by Picture This Television. For Picture This Television, executive producers are Bryan Scott and Lisa M. Tucker. Co-executive producer is Elaine Kavanagh. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Jenny Apostol; senior vice president of development and production is Janet Han Vissering; and executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.

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