PITTSBURGH, March 10, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- What would you call a prime- time television show that features eight matched one-ton horses and two Dalmatians? That show would be this Friday's America's Greatest Pets, of course. And the show-stopping animals would be brought to you courtesy of H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ). On Friday, March 12, viewers can tune into UPN's prime-time program featuring extraordinary pets and their owners (check local listings for times, either 7 or 8 p.m.).

Former Heinz executive John Dryer is the proud owner of the Heinz Hitch Percheron Horses and two Dalmatians, ``Barbie'' (short for Barbecue Sauce) and ``H.J.'' Dryer and his gang were spotlighted by America's Greatest Pets because of their unique profession. The team is on the road more than 100 days a year, traveling -- appropriately enough -- 57,000 miles annually. The horses pull the Heinz Hitch wagon, a replica of the classic delivery wagons used by the H.J. Heinz Company during the turn of the century. The horse and wagon combination has been a crowd favorite at parades and expositions such as Major League Baseball's Opening Day Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the internationally televised Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. In fact, this amazing horse team lends its 16,000 pounds of raw horsepower annually to pull one of only two horse-drawn Rose Parade floats.

Friday's show will highlight the special bond between Dryer and his famous pets and will explain how a retiree with 32 years of company service turned his hobby into a second career.