Animal Planet is coming to Oxford on May 22.

OXFORD – Lizards on motorcycles. Cheeseball-catching dogs. Bowling pigs. Roller-skating birds.

If your pet has talent, the “Animal Planet” people want to talk to you.

For the first time, the popular TV show on the Discovery Channel is holding auditions in Maine. The auditions will be Saturday, May 22, at Pet Fest 2004 at the Oxford County Fairgrounds.

“We’re going to get people from all over,” predicted Pet Fest organizer Judy Dill, who is thrilled about the extra exposure the “Pet Star” auditions will bring to the festival.

The talent show is an animal version of “Star Search” or “American Idol.” It’s a 15-week competition where each week a panel of celebrity judges gives thumbs up or down to barking birds, jump-roping dogs, a bunny that plays dead or just about anything that’s amazing, hilarious, brilliant, adorable or just plain stupid.

“We like the stupid pet tricks,” said HeidiMarie Pagliassotto, of the West Coast based production company, which will handle the auditions.

Brad Lachman Productions goes all over the country to pet festivals and grooming events to search for talent, she said. They’ll be in at least three other festival locations that same weekend. They also receive tapes daily from viewers who think their animal’s antics are worthy.

“Animal Planet” is the only channel on TV exclusively dedicated to the emotional connection between humans and animals, the show’s Web site states.

Pagliassotto said she’d be happy to find two or three acts worthy of being flown to Hollywood to appear on the “Pet Star” show. The weekly winners compete at the end of the 15 weeks in a two-hour grand finale where they vie for $25,000.

To audition, pet owners need to call a 24-hour hot line in California, which is (323) 463-5040. More information about the show is online at animal.discovery.com.