The home of the Pet Rock

I just returned from a fact gathering mission with six other students in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. I look forward to sharing the experiences and revelations shared by the residents, expats, and opinion leaders that form the Rosarito Beach community.

But first, I must share the most fascinating news that I learned while in Baja this weekend...

Rosarito Beach is the home of one of the most endearing (if not enduring) fad of the 70's...

The Pet Rock

According to Articlesoftheuniverse.com, the "Pet Rock" was the million-dollar brain child of an advertising executive named Gary Dahl in 1975. Dahl’s playfully entrepreneurial marketing was nothing more than bland rocks and pebbles that were then sold as live pets. This idea, that precedes "virtual pets" was inspired by the fact that these pet rocks, unlike needy cats and dogs, are hassle-free and don't make a mess. For a mere $3.95, they also cost far less money to purchase and keep up than the other pets required. And so, you too can own the Pet Rock, which does not need to be walked, and does not cost hundreds in vet bills, and would not poop on the floor.

The idea came when Dahl was having drinks with his buddies one night in April 1975 when the conversation turned to pets. He informed his friends that he considered dogs, cats, birds, and fish all a pain in the neck. According to Dahl, "They made a mess; they misbehaved; they cost too much money. " He, on the other hand, had a pet rock, and it was an ideal pet - easy and cheap, and it had a great personality. His buddies started to riff with the off-the-wall idea and pretty soon they were al tossing around the notion of a pet rock and all the things it was good for.

The company was named "Rock Bottom Productions". Imported from Rosarito Beach, Mexico, the pebbles were then packaged in a small cardboard box, designed like a pet carrier. Dahl also created a "Pet Rock Training Manual," containing instructions on how to properly care for one's pet, including how to house train one’s pet: "Place it on some old newspapers. The rock will never know what the paper is for and will require no further instruction.” The instruction manual included such commands as sit, stay, roll over, play dead, and come.

In addition to picking up random facts about Rosarito Beach, I also managed to collect a few of my own pet rocks. While mine do not include the ventilated travel box and care guide, each was tested for obedience (just like Dahl explained to Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show"). Once I download the photos from my digital camera, I will post a photo of the tour group's mascot, "Gustavo", an introverted little blue speckled stone I picked up directly from the beach. While my own pebbles will not go for the $15-$30 prices they are fetching on ebay these days... to me they are priceless.

(I would like to thank Ron Raposa of Rosarito Beach, MX for sharing this fascinating story!)