Very Important Pets

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Adolf Hitler. 3. Alfred Hitchcock. 4. Dr. Albert Schweitzer. 5. Audrey Hepburn. 6. All the presidents\' pets. 7. Betty White. 8. Lord Byron. 9. Christine Norman. 10. Doris Duke. 11. Dusty Springfield. 12. Colette. 13. Charles Dickens. 14. Elizabeth Taylor. 15. Elvis Presley. 16. Ernest Hemingway. 17. Fashion and lifestyle. 18. Francois Mitterand. 19. Frida Kahlo. 20. General George Patton. 21. Geri Halliwell. 22. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. 23. Heroic animals. 24. Gertrude Stein. 25. Joan Rivers. 26. John Steinbeck. 27. Liberace. 28. Legendary animals. 29. Maharaja Junagadh. 30. Marilyn Monroe. 31. Martina Navratilova. 32. Mary Tyler Moore. 33. Oprah Winfrey. 34. Pamela Anderson. 35. Renee Zellweger. 36. The Osbournes. 37. Pampered Pooches. 38. Paris Hilton. 39. Pet Cemetery. 40. Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy. 41. Rajiv Gandhi and family. 42. General Robert E. Lee. 43. Royals and their pets. 44. Sigmund Freud. 45. Unusual pets. 46. Venus and Serena Williams. 47. Vivien Leigh. 48. Winston Churchill.

"Across the world, pets inspire love and indulgence -- as confidantes, companions and pampered family members. Any pet owner knows that pets have their own distinct personalities and quirky character traits. VIPs -- Very Important Pets -- gives us a glimpse into the pet-loving side of famous world leaders, royalty, actors and artists.

For generations, dogs, horses and other pets have kept the British Royals Company, eating with them and travelling with them. Hollywood celebrities are not far behind. Everyone has heard stories of Hollywood\'s pampered pets. Some have even been immortalized on film -- Lassie and Boots, to name just a few. Presidential pets at the White House have often been more popular than their owners, and have provided a treasure trove of animal anecdotes.

The sky is the limit when it comes to the lengths people will go to pamper their pets. In North America and across Europe, there are hotels, restaurants, bakeries and even fitness centres catering to pets!

VIPs -- Very Important Pets -- tells us these, as well as other stories of special pets and their famous owners from around the world." (jacket)