1.
GV & SCU EXT Animal Gourmet (3 shots)
0.08

2.
GV & CU PAN Women walk with dogs into shop (2 shots)
0.18

3.
CU sign "We do not prepare dog and cat food, we prepare food for dogs and cats"
0.19

4.
SCU & CUs Montage of prices (6 shots)
0.27

5.
MV TILT UP Owners with dogs in shop
0.35

6.
CU Dog barking
0.38

7.
MV People buying goods at counter (man with glasses owns restaurant)
0.43

8.
MV Assistant serves meals to dogs
0.51

9.
SVs & CUs Owners feeding dogs (4 shots)
1.09

10.
MV ZOOM INTO CU Owner of restaurant feeding dog
1.18

11.
CU Birthday cake
1.22

12.
CU's Various dishes on display (6 shots)
1.34

13.
SV Dog being served with chicken supreme
1.44

14.
SCU ' TILT UP After finishing meal dog has face wiped (3 shots)
1.58



Initials BB/1812 IG/DW/BB/1853



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The "Animal Gourmet" is a New City restaurant with a difference. Judging from the menu -- Checked Supreme, Steak and Kidney Ragout and Swedish Meat Balls -- the unsuspecting passer-by might be tempted in. But once inside he'd soon realise that something was amiss.

For the "Animal Gourmet" is, as its name suggests, a restaurant for animals. Or in the indignant words of the notice posted on the wall -- "We do not prepare dog and cat food -- we prepare food for dogs and cats".

Started by a former teacher of Philosophy and French Literature, Mr. Wilbred Poulin just over a month ago, and "Animal Gourmet" has been an outstanding success. So much so that Mr. Poulin is thinking of opening branches in Florida and California.

Originally the shop was conceived as simply a place for buying animal food, but one day the owners placed a dish and a water cup on the floor and were surprised to find that their customers were enthusing over the opportunity of taking their pets out to dinner.

"Animals and humans are equal when it comes to eating", says Mr. Poulin, "it is the animality in the human that eats, not the intellect". According to Mr. Poulin one reason why the "Animal Gourmet" has been such a success is that animals enjoy the companionship of eating out. And they communicate that enjoyment to their owners, who bring them back time and time again.

Customers at the restaurant were not available for comment -- they were too buy eating.