Paws

State wildlife investigators want to know whether a legitimate hunter or a poacher dealing in illegal animal parts left a pair of severed black bear paws in front of a Riverside home recently. The paws, which were in a plastic bag, appeared on the doorstep of a home on Clifton Boulevard on May 4. But who dropped them off is a mystery. "The hunter was a friend of a friend of a friend who nobody seems to know," said Riverside police spokesman Steven Frasher.

Carole Cook, Dale Kristien, Linda Purl, Charlotte Rae, Kirby Tepper, the cast of "Forever Plaid," members of the L.A. Gay Men's Chorus and many more will pay tribute to the animal kingdom in "Aardvarks to Zebras 6," a musical benefit for PAWS/LA, a pet support organization for people living with HIV/AIDS, at the Pasadena Playhouse on Monday. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show and post-show gala are $50 to $100; tickets for show, gala and a 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception are $150.

Your perfectly and poignantly wrought "Their Pet Cause" (Sept. 13) reflects the L.A. Times at its affirmative best. Does this mark a possible return of the recently retired Sunday Profile? DAVID LEWIS Piedmont

A motorcycle officer and a police dog teamed up to capture two men suspected of holding up a liquor store at gunpoint Tuesday night, police said. The two men were spotted driving in a car shortly after South Coast Liquor in the 2200 block of South Bristol Street was robbed, Santa Ana Police Lt. Earl Porter said. "A Santa Ana motor officer saw the vehicle in the area of Flower and Bishop streets and began following it," Porter said.

With their masters in tow, "Beary" Qualls, "Spiker" Tassie and "Clyde" Hubbard were among those who spent much of Friday morning panting and squirming but, for the most part, waiting patiently in the Santa Claus line at Laguna Hills Mall. In Clyde's case, "tow" is most appropriate, considering he is a 92-pound basset hound who has a tug much bigger than his bite.

On some days the members of the Clinton family--oh, so new to the presidential limelight--appear to be having a minor anxiety attack about how public their lives have suddenly become. They haven't seen anything yet. The President of the United States is the most public of all public figures in America--and very close behind him are the other members of the First Family.

"Ruff, ruff, arf, arf." Lick in the face. Slobber, slobber. That's just our way of giving Flossie the Dog mad luv for saving America's sweetheart Drew Barrymore and her funny-man beau Tom Green from their terrible house fire. From Lassie to Flossie to Turner and Hooch, it's always good to have a pooch. . . . The only person I'd gain a pound for (aside from periodic bunnies in the oven) is Monica May.

Police say they have broken up an unusual gang of San Fernando Valley cat burglars who were driven by puppy love. Four teen-age North Hollywood boys were arrested on suspicion of breaking into 30 cars to steal popular Garfield the Cat dolls for their girlfriends, Los Angeles police said Friday.

The black Dalmatian spots are already appearing on backpacks, bedsheets and T-shirts. But a Walt Disney Co. advertising plan to put spots on the world-famous Hollywood sign seemed to be headed for the doghouse Friday. Facing skeptical city officials and a pack of unhappy neighbors, Disney at least temporarily withdrew its formal request for permission for the stunt promoting its new "101 Dalmatians" film.