Document:

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                         MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT

MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY AGREEMENT by and between Ralston Purina Company
("Ralston"), a Missouri corporation, and ______ (the "Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors, as defined herein, has authorized Ralston to
enter into a Management Continuity Agreement (the "Agreement") with certain key
executives of Ralston; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors believes it is imperative, in the event of an
attempted Change in Control, as defined herein, that certain key executives
continue employment with Ralston or one of its Affiliates, and that Ralston be
able to receive and rely upon the advice of such executives on the best
interests of Ralston and its shareholders, without concern that the executives
may be distracted by uncertainties as to their own position or security; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is a key executive of Ralston and has been selected by
the Board of Directors to be offered this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors believes that the payments which may be made
under this Agreement constitute additional reasonable compensation for services
to be rendered by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control;

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, Ralston and the Executive agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS: For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:

a.    AFFILIATE: An Affiliate shall mean any Person who, directly or indirectly
      or through one or more intermediaries, Controls another Person, is
      Controlled by another Person, or is under common Control with another
      Person.

b.    BASE AMOUNT: The Base Amount shall mean the "base amount" as defined and
      determined pursuant to Section 280G of the Code applicable at the time of
      the Executive's Qualifying Termination.

c.    BASE COMPENSATION: The Base Compensation shall mean the sum of:

      (i) the Executive's monthly gross salary, whether paid or deferred, for
      the last full month preceding the Executive's Qualifying Termination or
      for the last full month preceding the Change in Control, whichever is
      greater;
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      (ii) a one (1) month portion (as if earned ratably over the relevant
      period) of the Executive's most recent annual (or, if applicable, pro rata
      portion of the annual) bonus, whether paid or deferred, preceding the
      Executive's Qualifying Termination or the Change in Control, whichever is
      greater; and

      (iii) the greater of the following:

            (A) a one (1) month portion (as if earned ratably over the relevant
            period) of the Executive's bonus award (base and peer group award,
            if applicable) most recently made at the end of the full term of an
            Incentive Plan prior to a Change in Control, whether paid or
            deferred;

      or

            (B) a one (1) month portion (as if earned ratably over the relevant
            period) of any amounts attributable to the Executive under all of
            the Incentive Plans in effect at the time of the Change in Control,
            calculated through the last full month preceding the Change in
            Control or, if applicable, preceding the Executive's Qualifying
            Termination, whichever is greater.

d.    BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP: Beneficial Ownership shall mean "beneficial
      ownership" as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under Section 13(d) of the
      Exchange Act.

e.    BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall mean the Board of
      Directors of Ralston.

f.    BUYER: A Person which, alone or with its Affiliates, purchases the
      business or businesses of Ralston and its Affiliates in a transaction or
      transactions described in Article 2(c).

g.    CHANGE IN CONTROL: A Change in Control shall mean an occurrence set forth
      in Article 2.

h.    CODE: The Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

i.    COMMON STOCK: Common Stock shall mean the $.10 par value common stock of
      Ralston, and such other Ralston voting stock that may be issued, prior to
      a Change in Control, in lieu of, or in addition to, the Common Stock, as a
      result of (i) a merger or consolidation of Ralston, (ii) the creation of a
      class or classes of tracking stock, or (iii) the reclassification of any
      of the foregoing.

j.    CONTINUING DIRECTOR: A Continuing Director shall mean a member of the
      Board of Directors as of the date hereof, and any other director who was
      appointed or nominated for election to the Board of Directors by a
      majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.

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k.    CONTROL: Control (including the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and
      "under common control with") shall mean the possession of a power,
      directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of securities, by
      contract or otherwise:

      (i) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of a Person; or

      (ii) to direct the business, management and policies of a Person or direct
         the sale of a substantial portion of its assets.

l.    DISABILITY: A Disability shall mean a condition where the Executive
      suffers a complete inability to perform the Executive's work assignments
      because of injury or sickness, and such inability is expected to continue
      indefinitely. To determine Disability, Ralston shall rely on a
      determination with respect to disability of the Executive made under the
      Purina Benefit Association Long Term Disability Plan or any successor
      disability plan. If no such determination has been made within seven (7)
      months after the Executive's last day worked, or if the Executive is not
      enrolled in any such Long Term Disability Plan, the determination shall be
      made by a licensed physician jointly selected by Ralston and the
      Executive. Fees and expenses of any physician, and all costs of
      examinations of the Executive, shall be paid by Ralston.

m.    DISCOUNT RATE: The Discount Rate shall mean the "applicable interest rate"
      (and the mortality tables, if applicable) prescribed under Section
      417(e)(3) of the Code at the time of the Executive's Qualifying
      Termination.

n.    EXCHANGE ACT: The Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934, as amended.

o.    GROUP: A Group shall mean "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the
      Exchange Act.

p.    INCENTIVE PLAN: An Incentive Plan shall mean any cash bonus plan with a
      term of more than two (2) years but less than five (5) years, including
      the 1996, 1998 and 2000 Leveraged Incentive Plans (whether or not subject
      to the terms of the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan) and all similar
      plans adopted during the term of this Agreement.

q.    PAYMENT PERIOD: The Payment Period shall mean the period commencing with
      the first day of the month following the month in which a Qualifying
      Termination occurs and continuing:

      (i) for twenty-four (24) months if the Qualifying Termination occurs at
      any time during the first year following the Change in Control; or

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      (ii) for twelve (12) months if the Qualifying Termination occurs at any
      time during the second year following the Change in Control.

r.    PERSON: Person shall mean any natural person, firm, individual, company,
      corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, limited
      liability company, business trust, trust, association or any other
      business organization or entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated,
      or any division thereof.

s.    QUALIFYING TERMINATION: A Qualifying Termination shall mean the
      Executive's termination of employment, within two (2) years after a Change
      in Control, from Ralston, a Buyer or an Affiliate or a Successor of the
      foregoing; provided that, a Qualifying Termination shall not be deemed to
      occur on account of:

        (A) the Executive's transfer of employment at any time during the term
            of this Agreement between any two Persons comprised of Ralston or
            its Successor, and any of their Affiliates, provided that, upon such
            a transfer after a Change in Control, the Executive has
            Substantially the Same Employment after such transfer as immediately
            prior to the Change in Control; or

        (B) the Executive's being employed by a Buyer or any Affiliate or
            Successor of such Buyer, in connection with a Change in Control
            described in Article 2(c), provided that, during the term of this
            Agreement, the Executive has Substantially the Same Employment as
            immediately prior to the Change in Control; or

        (C)  the Executive's death; or

        (D) after a Change in Control, the Executive's voluntary termination of
            employment with Ralston, a Buyer or an Affiliate or Successor of the
            foregoing, if the Executive has Substantially the Same Employment at
            the time of such voluntary termination as immediately prior to the
            Change in Control.

t.    RETIREMENT PLAN: The Retirement Plan shall mean the Ralston Purina
      Retirement Plan, as amended, or any successor retirement plan adopted by
      Ralston.

u.    SPIN-OFF: A Spin-off shall mean a spin-off, reverse spin-off or similar
      type of transaction, including a management-led leveraged buyout,
      resulting in the disposition to Ralston's shareholders, or to a
      management-led leveraged buyout group, of all or substantially all of the
      stock and/or assets of any business conducted by Ralston and/or its
      Affiliates.

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v.    SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME EMPLOYMENT: Substantially the Same Employment shall
      mean employment where there is, after a Change in Control compared to
      immediately prior to a Change in Control:

            (i)   no reduction in the Executive's base salary and no less than
                  such annual increases in the Executive's base salary as were
                  customary with respect to the Executive prior to the Change in
                  Control; and

            (ii)  no reduction in the annual bonus award opportunity below the
                  performance target applicable to the Executive, for both
                  personal and company or business unit performance, unless a
                  substantially equivalent arrangement (embodied in an ongoing
                  substitute or alternative annual bonus award plan) has been
                  made with respect to such annual bonus award, and such
                  arrangement provides benefits not materially less favorable to
                  the Executive (both in terms of the amount of benefits
                  provided and the level of the Executive's participation
                  relative to other participants); and

            (iii) no substantial reduction in Executive's participation in any
                  executive incentive compensation plans in which Executive
                  participated immediately before the Change in Control,
                  including but not limited to the Executive Incentive
                  Compensation Plan, any Incentive Plan, and the Incentive Stock
                  Plan (or any substitute or successor plans adopted prior to
                  the Change in Control), unless a substantially equivalent
                  arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative
                  plan) has been made with respect to such executive incentive
                  compensation plans, and such arrangement provides benefits not
                  materially less favorable to the Executive (both in terms of
                  the amount of benefits provided and the level of the
                  Executive's participation relative to other participants); and

            (iv)  no substantial reduction in employee pension benefits
                  (including plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code
                  and non-qualified plans) and welfare and fringe benefits
                  applicable to the Executive, so that the benefit programs for
                  which the Executive is eligible are, in the aggregate,
                  substantially equivalent; and

            (v)   no reduction of a substantial nature in the Executive's duties
                  or responsibilities, or assignment of new duties inconsistent
                  with the Executive's skills, education and experience; and

            (vi)  no substantial reduction in the Executive's access to
                  administrative support services; and

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            (vii) no requirement that any of the Executive's offices be located
                  more than fifty (50) miles from the location of such offices
                  immediately prior to a Change in Control; and

            (viii) no increase in the Executive's required business travel away
                  from his or her office that would be substantially
                  inconsistent with the Executive's business travel obligations
                  immediately prior to a Change in Control.

w.    SUCCESSOR: A Successor shall mean (i) the continuing, surviving or
      successor Person which is created, or remains in existence, upon the
      merger or consolidation of two Persons; or (ii) a Person which otherwise
      succeeds (by operation of law, contract or otherwise) to the rights,
      duties or interests of another Person.

x.    SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN: The Supplemental Plan shall mean the Ralston Purina
      Supplemental Retirement Plan, as amended, or any successor supplemental
      retirement plan adopted by Ralston.

ARTICLE 2.  CHANGE IN CONTROL:  A Change in Control will occur if there is:

      a.    Such a change in the membership of the Board of Directors that
            Continuing Directors shall have ceased (for any reason) to
            constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; or

      b.    An acquisition by any Person or Group, or by a Person and its
            Affiliates or by a Group and Affiliates of members of such Group, of
            the Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the
            then-outstanding Common Stock of Ralston (other than acquisitions by
            Ralston, a Ralston Affiliate, or any trustee or other fiduciary
            holding Ralston Common Stock pursuant to the terms of any Ralston
            benefit plan); or

      c.    Either of the following: (i) a sale of all or substantially all of
            the assets of Ralston in a transaction subject to the provisions of
            Section 351.400 Revised Statutes of Missouri; or (ii) a sale or
            other disposition to a Person or a Group, or to a Person and its
            Affiliates or to a Group and Affiliates of members of such Group,
            (excluding a sale or disposition to an Affiliate or Affiliates of
            Ralston), of all or substantially all of the assets of those
            businesses of Ralston and its Affiliates which, in the aggregate,
            accounted for (as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending coincident
            with or immediately preceding such sale) all or substantially all of
            Ralston's operating profit; or

      d.    A merger, share exchange, reorganization or consolidation of Ralston
            with any other Person other than an Affiliate of Ralston (a
            "Business Combination"), unless the voting power of the Common Stock
            outstanding

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            immediately before such Business Combination continues to represent,
            immediately following such Business Combination (either by remaining
            outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
            Person surviving after such Business Combination or its Affiliate),
            more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
            voting securities of such surviving Person (or its Affiliate)
            including (if applicable) Ralston; or

      e.    A finding by a majority of the Continuing Directors that a sale,
            disposition, merger or other transaction or event designated by such
            Continuing Directors in their sole discretion shall, under this
            Agreement, constitute a Change in Control with respect to the
            Executive.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Spin-off be deemed to
      constitute a Change in Control.

ARTICLE 3. OPERATION OF AGREEMENT: This Agreement shall not create any
obligation on the part of Ralston or its Affiliates, or the Executive, to
continue the Executive's employment relationship. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall not be entitled to Severance
Benefits, as defined below, under this Agreement unless and until there has been
a Change in Control and the Executive has had a Qualifying Termination. Except
as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall not affect any other benefit
program (as such programs may be amended) applicable to the Executive; provided,
that, by execution of this Agreement, the Executive hereby waives any and all
claims to benefits under any termination or severance plan or similar severance
arrangement offered by Ralston or its Affiliates to all or some of their
employees during the term of this Agreement, that would otherwise be payable to
the Executive on account of, or coincident with, a Change in Control and
termination of employment.

ARTICLE 4. SEVERANCE BENEFITS: If the Executive remains in the employ of Ralston
or one of its Affiliates until a Change in Control has occurred, then upon the
Executive's Qualifying Termination within two (2) years after a Change in
Control, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits ("Severance
Benefits"), subject to withholding of any federal, state or local taxes which,
in the opinion of counsel for the payor of the Severance Benefits, are required
to be withheld, and further subject to Article 5 of this Agreement:

a.    Payment in a lump sum in cash, within sixty (60) days of the Executive's
      Qualifying Termination, of the present value, calculated using the
      Discount Rate, of an income stream equal to the Executive's Base
      Compensation as if it were to be paid each month throughout the applicable
      Payment Period; and

b.    Continuation during the Payment Period of life, health, accident,
      disability and fringe benefits no less favorable than those provided to
      the Executive under life, health,

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      accident, disability and fringe benefit plans and programs in effect
      immediately prior to the Change in Control (including, but not limited to,
      the Partnership Life Plan, Split Dollar Second to Die Program, Executive
      Life Plan, Comprehensive Health Plan, Executive Health Plan, Voluntary
      Personal Accident Plan, Long Term Disability Plan, Executive Long Term
      Disability Plan, Financial Planning Program, Morgan Online Program, Group
      Personal Excess Liability Plan, Corporate Car Allowance Program and the
      Corporate Officer Car Program), subject to all terms and conditions of
      such plans immediately prior to such Change in Control including, but not
      limited to, provisions regarding the extent and duration of spouse and
      dependent coverage, and subject to payment of premiums, if any, charged at
      rates no greater than those under the rate structure in effect immediately
      prior to the Change in Control; and

c.    Payment in a lump sum in cash, within sixty (60) days of the Executive's
      Qualifying Termination, of the present value (calculated as of the date of
      the Qualifying Termination using the Discount Rate) of an annuity amount
      determined as the difference between (A) and (B), where (A) is the dollar
      value of the actual benefits (payable in the form of a single life annuity
      with 60 monthly payments guaranteed), if any, to which the Executive, or
      the Executive's beneficiary, is entitled under the Retirement Plan and the
      Supplemental Plan (excluding amounts accrued in the PensionPlus Match
      Account in the Retirement Plan) as of the Qualifying Termination Date; and
      where (B) is the dollar value of the benefits (payable in the form of a
      single life annuity with 60 monthly payments guaranteed), if any, under
      the Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Plan (excluding amounts accrued
      in the aforesaid PensionPlus Match Account) which the Executive, or the
      Executive's beneficiary, would have been entitled to receive as of the end
      of the applicable Payment Period if the Executive had remained employed by
      Ralston or one of its Affiliates during the applicable Payment Period at a
      compensation level equal to the Executive's Base Compensation. In
      calculating the lump sum payable as of the date of the Qualifying
      Termination, this annuity amount (determined as the difference between (A)
      and (B) above) is assumed to be payable to the Executive in the form of a
      single life annuity with 60 monthly payments guaranteed commencing on the
      date of the Qualifying Termination; and

d.    If the Executive, at the time of the Qualifying Termination, is at least
      48 years old but not yet age 55, monthly payments equal in amount to those
      the Executive would be entitled to receive pursuant to the Retirement Plan
      and the Supplemental Plan (excluding amounts accrued in the PensionPlus
      Match Account) if paid in the form of a single life annuity. The payments
      shall be calculated as if the Executive were age 55 but with years of
      service equal to the Executive's "credited service" (as defined in the
      Retirement Plan) as of the Qualifying Termination. Such payments shall
      commence upon the first day of the month following the later to occur of
      the Qualifying Termination or the attainment of age 50, and shall be paid
      to the Executive (or his or her beneficiary designated under Article 6)
      until the date the Executive attains or would have attained age 55.
      Alternatively, if the Executive is

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      eligible to receive benefits from the Retirement Plan (other than the
      PensionPlus Match Account benefits) in the form of a lump sum, the
      Executive may elect to receive a lump sum equal to the present value,
      calculated using the Discount Rate, of the monthly benefits provided for
      in this Article 4(d).

e.    During the Payment Period, the Executive may request in writing, and the
      Company shall at its expense engage within a reasonable time following
      such written request, an outplacement counseling service of national
      reputation to assist the Executive in obtaining employment. The Executive
      shall be entitled to outplacement services which are customary for someone
      in the Executive's position.

ARTICLE 5.  EXCISE TAXES AND GROSS-UP PAYMENT

a.    Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, and except as
      set forth below, in the event it shall be determined under the provisions
      of Article 5(b) that any payment or distribution by Ralston, a Buyer, or
      any Successor or Affiliate of the foregoing ("Payor"), to or for the
      benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
      distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise,
      including without limitation any other plan, arrangement or agreement with
      such Payor, and including a determination (i) with regard to the value of
      any accelerated vesting of stock awards or other forms of compensation, if
      such vesting occurs as a result of a Change in Control; but (ii) without
      regard to any additional payments required under this Article 5) (a
      "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of
      the Code, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with
      respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such
      interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
      "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an
      additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment"). This Gross-Up Payment shall be
      equal to an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes
      (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
      including, without limitation, (i) any income and FICA taxes (and any
      interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and (ii) Excise Tax
      imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the
      Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
      Ralston's obligation to make Gross-Up Payments under this Article 5(a)
      shall not be conditioned upon the Executive's Qualifying Termination of
      Employment. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up
      Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the
      highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in
      which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, and state and local income taxes
      at the highest marginal rate of taxation in either the state and locality
      of the Executive's place of employment at the time of the Change in
      Control or in the state and locality of residence at the time or times of
      payment, as applicable, net of the maximum reduction in federal income
      taxes that could be obtained from the deduction of the state and local
      taxes.

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      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 5(a), if it shall
      be determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but
      that the Payments do not exceed 110 percent of the greatest amount (the
      "Reduced Amount") that could be paid to the Executive such that the
      receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no
      Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive, and the Payments, in the
      aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount. The reduction of the
      amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing
      the payments under Article 4(a) hereof, and in any event shall be made in
      such a manner as to maximize the value of all Payments actually made to
      the Executive. For purposes of reducing the payments to the Reduced
      Amount, only amounts payable under this Agreement (and no other Payments)
      shall be reduced. If the reduction of amounts payable under this Agreement
      would not result in the payment of the Reduced Amount, no amounts payable
      under this Agreement shall be reduced.

b.    Ralston shall provide written notice to the Executive with respect to each
      Payment promptly after it occurs, setting forth the nature of such
      Payment. Subject to the provisions of Article 5(c), all determinations
      required to be made under this Article 5, including whether and when a
      Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
      the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be
      made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be
      designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm"). Within 15 days after
      the Accounting Firm has been notified by the Executive or Ralston that a
      Payment has occurred, the Accounting Firm shall provide detailed
      supporting calculations with respect to such Payment both to Ralston and
      the Executive. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne
      solely by Ralston. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
      Article 5, shall be paid by Ralston to the Executive within five days of
      the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any determination by
      the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon Ralston and the Executive. As a
      result of any uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code
      at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder,
      it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by
      Ralston should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
      calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that Ralston
      exhausts its remedies pursuant to Article 5(c) and the Executive
      thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting
      Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and
      any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by Ralston to or for the
      benefit of the Executive.

c.    The Executive shall notify Ralston in writing of any written communication
      from the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority concerning the
      Gross-Up Payment or other matters arising under this Agreement. Such
      notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten
      business days after the Executive receives such written communication and
      shall apprise Ralston of the content of such communication. Failure to
      give timely notice shall not be deemed to prejudice the Executive's rights
      to Gross-Up Payment and rights of indemnity hereunder.

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      The Executive shall not pay any claim pursuant to such written
      communication prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the
      date on which the Executive gives such notice to Ralston (or such shorter
      period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such
      claim is due). If Ralston notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
      expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the
      Executive shall (i) give Ralston any information reasonably requested by
      Ralston relating to such claim, (ii) take such action in connection with
      contesting such claim as Ralston shall reasonably request in writing from
      time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal
      representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably
      selected by Ralston, (iii) cooperate with Ralston in good faith in order
      to effectively contest such claim, and (iv) permit Ralston to participate
      in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that Ralston
      shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional
      interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall
      indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, such that after payment by the
      Executive of any and all income taxes, Excise Taxes and FICA taxes
      (including any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto)
      ("Taxes") that may be imposed as a result of such representation and
      payment of costs and expenses by Ralston, the Executive retains an amount
      equal to such Taxes. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of
      this Article 5(c), Ralston shall control all proceedings taken in
      connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo
      any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences
      with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole
      option, either direct the Executive to pay Taxes claimed and sue for a
      refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive
      agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any
      administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or
      more appellate courts, as Ralston shall determine; provided, however, that
      if Ralston directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund,
      Ralston shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an
      interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless
      such that, after payment by the Executive of Taxes imposed with respect to
      such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such
      advance, the Executive retains an amount equal to such Taxes. Furthermore,
      Ralston's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect
      to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive
      shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other
      issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority
      unrelated to the subject mater of this Agreement.

d.    If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by Ralston
      pursuant to Article 5(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any
      refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to
      Ralston's complying with the requirements of Article 5(c)) promptly pay to
      Ralston the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or
      credited thereon after Taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by
      the Executive of an amount advanced by Ralston pursuant to Article 5(c), a
      determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any
      refund with

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      respect to such claim and Ralston does not notify the Executive in writing
      of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of
      30 days after such determination, then such advance shall be deemed to be
      a part of the Gross-Up Payment and shall not be required to be repaid.

ARTICLE 6. DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY: The Executive, by notice in accordance with
Article 12 hereof, may designate a beneficiary or contingent beneficiaries to
receive the Severance Benefits described in Article 4 in the event of the
Executive's death following the Executive's Qualifying Termination but prior to
payment in full by Ralston, its Successor or assigns. The Executive may, from
time to time, revoke or change any such designation of beneficiary. Any
designation of beneficiary made pursuant to this Agreement shall be controlling
over any other designation made by the Executive, testamentary or otherwise;
provided, that if Ralston shall be in doubt as to the right of a beneficiary to
receive payments, it may determine in its sole discretion to pay such amounts to
the legal representative of the Executive's estate.

ARTICLE 7. EARLY SEPARATION: In the event that, prior to a Change in Control,
the Executive executes a separation agreement with Ralston or any of its
Affiliates during the term of this Agreement which, by its terms, specifically
addresses issues related to the Executive's termination of employment and
benefits to be paid upon such termination, all of the Executive's rights, claims
and entitlements under this Agreement shall terminate even if, under the terms
of such separation agreement, the Executive remains employed by Ralston or one
of its Affiliates for a period of time after execution of such separation
agreement.

ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTIONS: The Executive agrees, as a condition of receiving the
Severance Benefits described under Article 4 or the Gross-Up Payment described
under Article 5, that during the Payment Period, the Executive will not, as an
individual or as a partner, employee, agent, advisor, consultant or in any other
capacity of or to any person, firm, corporation or other entity (excluding
Ralston, a Buyer, or a Successor or Affiliate of the foregoing), directly or
indirectly, other than as a 2% or less shareholder of a publicly traded
corporation, do any of the following:

      (a) carry on any business, or become involved in any business activity,
which is competitive with the business conducted by Ralston or an Affiliate
immediately prior to a Change in Control; or

      (b) induce or attempt to induce, or assist anyone else to induce or
attempt to induce, any customer of Ralston to discontinue its business with
Ralston or disclose to anyone else any confidential information relating to the
identities, preferences, and/or requirements of any such customer.

      The Executive agrees (a) that the restraints contained in this Article 8,
both separately and in total, are reasonable in view of the legitimate interests
of Ralston in

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
protecting its trade secret information and business relationships; and (b) to
disclose to any potential future employer during the Payment Period, the terms
of the restrictions against competition contained in this Article 8.

      If any provision or subpart of this Article 8 is adjudicated to be invalid
or unenforceable under applicable law, the validity or enforceability of the
remaining provisions and subparts shall be unaffected. If any provision or
subpart of this Article 8 is adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable because
it is overbroad or unreasonable, that provision or subpart shall not be void but
rather shall be limited to the extent required to make it reasonable and
enforced as so limited.

      In the event of a breach of this Article 8, Ralston (i) shall have no
further liability for any of the Severance Benefits described in Article 4 and
the Gross-Up Payment described in Article 5 that have not been paid as of the
date of the breach, or (ii) shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal or
equitable remedies it may have, to temporary, preliminary and permanent
injunctive relief restraining such breach.

ARTICLE 9. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS: This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of,
and be binding upon, Ralston and its Successors. Ralston may not assign this
Agreement without the Executive's prior written consent. Ralston will require
any Person to which it assigns this Agreement to assume expressly the Agreement
and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
that Ralston would be required to perform it if no such assignment had taken
place. No assignment of this Agreement shall relieve Ralston from liability for
any of its obligations hereunder, and in the event of any such assignment,
Ralston or its Successor shall continue to remain primarily liable for payment
of the Severance Benefits described in Article 4 and the Gross-Up Payment in
Article 5 and for the performance and observance of the agreements provided
herein to be performed and observed by Ralston. The Executive shall have no
right to transfer or assign the right to receive any Severance Benefits under
Article 4 and Gross-Up Payment under Article 5 of this Agreement, except as
permitted under Article 6.

ARTICLE 10. COSTS: Irrespective of the success of the Executive's claim, Ralston
will reimburse the Executive, or the legal representative of the Executive's
estate, for reasonable attorney's fees and costs in the event that the Executive
brings legal action to enforce payment by Ralston, its Affiliates or assigns, or
any Successors to any of the foregoing, of the Severance Benefits described in
Article 4 (plus interest at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section
7872(f)(2) of the Code on payments of such Severance Benefits due but not timely
made) and the Gross-Up Payment under Article 5.

ARTICLE 11. TERM OF AGREEMENT: This Agreement shall expire upon the earliest of
the following to occur:

      (i) five (5) years from its effective date, unless extended by the Board
      of Directors on or before such expiration date;

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
      (ii) if a determination of the Executive's Disability is made before a
      Change in Control while this Agreement is in effect, the day following
      such determination; or

      (iii) if the Executive ceases to be employed with Ralston and any of its
      Affiliates prior to a Change in Control, the last day of such employment;
      provided that, if the Executive and Ralston or one of its Affiliates
      enters into a separation agreement as described in Article 7 while this
      Agreement is in effect, the effective date of such separation agreement.

After the expiration of this Agreement, the Executive shall have no rights to
any Severance Benefits described in Article 4 and Gross-Up Payment described in
Article 5, provided, if a Change in Control occurs prior to the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, then the Executive shall be entitled to the
Gross-Up Payment described in Article 5 and, upon a subsequent Qualifying
Termination, Severance Benefits described in Article 4, and the term of this
Agreement shall be extended until the latest to occur of the following: (a) the
expiration of the applicable Payment Period; (b) if the Executive is eligible
for monthly payments pursuant to Article 4(d), the date of the final payment
thereunder; or (c) the date of the final Gross-Up Payment due under Article 5.

ARTICLE 12. NOTICE: Any notice or other communication required or permitted
hereunder is deemed delivered when delivered in person; on the next business day
when sent by an overnight delivery service; or on the third business day when
sent by U.S. mail service, as follows:

TO RALSTON:                   Corporate Secretary
                              Ralston Purina Company
                              Checkerboard Square
                              St. Louis, MO  63164

TO THE EXECUTIVE:             ________________________
                              ________________________
                              ________________________

ARTICLE 13. VENUE: ANY ACTION OR LEGAL PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE PAYMENT OF
SEVERANCE BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 4 OR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COVENANTS
CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 5 OR 8 OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT IN A FEDERAL OR
STATE COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI, AND THE PARTIES TO
THIS AGREEMENT CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURT.

ARTICLE 14. MISSOURI LAW TO GOVERN: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Missouri without regard to its conflict of laws provisions.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
ARTICLE 15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes and replaces any previous management continuity agreement or any
employment contract (oral or written) between Ralston and the Executive relating
to severance payments after a Change in Control, and upon the execution of this
Agreement, both parties agree that any prior agreement or employment contract
covering severance payments (or other severance-type payments) after a Change in
Control shall be considered null and void and of no further effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ralston and the Executive have executed this Agreement
effective as of the __________ day of _______, 2000.

ATTEST:                                   RALSTON PURINA COMPANY

-------------------------                 ----------------------------
Nancy E. Hamilton                          S. M. Rea
VP & Corporate Secretary                   Vice President and General Counsel

WITNESS:

------------------------                  ----------------------------
                                          Executive

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
                                       16<PAGE>   1
                                                               December 21, 2000

         DEFERRAL OF POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY SEVERANCE BENEFITS

As a selected key executive subject to a Management Continuity Agreement with
the Company dated as of December 21, 2000 (the "MCA"), you may elect, under the
Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees (the "Plan"), to defer, subject to
the approval of the Human Resources Committee of the Board, any lump sum
Severance Benefits payable under Article 4, paragraphs a and c of the MCA.
Because you are entitled to Severance Benefits only upon a Qualifying
Termination of your employment within [FOUR/ TWO] years of a Change in Control
in accordance with the terms of the MCA, a deferral of such Severance Benefits
can only be given effect if a valid aged deferral election AND a valid aged
installment payment election are in place at the time Severance Benefits become
payable.

Elections to defer and receive installment payments must be made sufficiently in
advance of a Change in Control and a Qualifying Termination, as defined under
the MCA, in order to effect the deferral for Federal and State income tax
purposes.

Deferrals of MCA Severance Benefits can be made into such Deferral Options (as
defined in the Plan) as are available under the Plan at the time of your
Qualifying Termination after a Change in Control. At this time, Deferral Options
include (i) the Prime Rate Option, (ii) the Ralston Purina Equity Option and
(iii) nine Measurement Fund Options which mirror the returns of the Vanguard
mutual funds that are available in the Ralston Purina Company Savings Investment
Plan. Under the Plan, upon the occurrence of a certain type of Change in
Control, deferrals into the Ralston Purina Equity Option will no longer be
permitted and accounts under that Option will be converted into accounts
established under the Prime Rate Option. Therefore, upon the occurrence of such
type of Change in Control, the Equity Option will not be available for your
deferral. In addition, you should be aware that the Deferral Options offered
under the Plan may be added or deleted as the Committee or its delegee may from
time to time determine. Although your election to defer is irrevocable, you will
be given an opportunity to alter your choice of Deferral Options at the time the
deferral is effected, consistent with the range of Deferral Options available at
such time.

Attachment 1 lists Factors to Consider. The Deferred Compensation Plan
Prospectus (Attachment 2) summarizes the provisions of those Deferral Options.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO COMPANY MATCH WILL BE PROVIDED TO ANY SEVERANCE BENEFITS
DEFERRALS.

In making your election, please carefully review the attached Deferred
Compensation Plan Prospectus and the Factors to Consider. Keep in mind that your
election to defer may not be changed even if circumstances, such as your
personal financial situation, interest rates or Deferral Options, change in the
future.
<PAGE>   2
REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL

PLEASE RETURN ONE COPY OF THE ELECTION FORM (ATTACHMENT 3) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
BUT IN ANY EVENT NO LATER THAN JANUARY 20, 2001 WHETHER OR NOT YOU WISH TO
REQUEST A DEFERRAL. A duplicate form is attached for your records.

The deferral of MCA Severance Benefits is at the discretion of Human Resources
Committee of the Board of Directors and is subject to the Committee's approval.

If you have any questions, please call me at extension 2325 or Pat Robbins at
extension 5889.

                                    Ron Sheban

Attachments
<PAGE>   3
                                                                    Attachment 1

                               FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Under current Federal and state income tax laws, you will not be taxed on any
deferral amounts or any earnings on those deferral amounts until you actually
receive payments of such amounts, as long as elections to defer are made in a
timely fashion. Deferred amounts are taxed as ordinary income in the year
received.

The IRS may challenge a deferral of income if the timing of the deferral and
payment form elections does not satisfy certain IRS criteria. In such event, the
IRS may deem the entire MCA Severance Benefit to have been constructively
received and subject to income taxes at the time the Benefits became payable
under the MCA Agreement upon a Change in Control and Qualifying Termination of
Employment.

All wages, without limit, and whether or not deferred, are subject when earned
to Social Security (to the extent the taxable wage base has not been attained),
and to the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Tax of 1.45%. To the extent
necessary to satisfy these FICA withholding requirements, a portion of the
deferred MCA Severance Benefits may, instead, be paid to you and subject to
Federal, state, and local taxes, as applicable. All required withholding would
first be taken out of any nondeferred MCA Severance Benefits, or your first
installment payment of MCA Severance Benefits.

MCA Severance Benefits, whether paid or deferred, are not Benefit Earnings for
purposes of Ralston Purina Company benefit plans.

In evaluating the Ralston Purina Equity Fund Option, consider the length of time
your investment in stock equivalents subjects your deferral to market risks.
Also consider long-range economic and political conditions, the prospects of the
business underlying the stock, and whether the Company will be willing and able
to declare and pay dividends to create dividend equivalents. Note that upon the
occurrence of a certain type of a Change in Control, the Equity Fund Option will
cease, no new deferrals into this Option will be accepted, and all existing
deferrals in the Equity Fund Option will be transferred to the Prime Rate Fund.

The Prime Rate Fund Option will credit interest equivalents on your deferred
amounts annually based on the average of the daily close of business prime
rates. These equivalents may vary substantially from year to year depending on
changes in interest rates.

For the Measurement Fund Options, deferred amounts will earn returns (which may
be positive or negative) as if they had been invested at the net asset value
(net of investment advisory fees) of the investment funds on which the
measurement is based. Note that these funds are used for measurement purposes
only. Your account will be credited with investment returns based on these funds
but will be reflected as a bookkeeping entry only and will not represent an
actual investment made on your behalf.

The Deferral Options offered under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key
Employees may be added or deleted as the Human Resources Committee of the Board
of Directors, or its delegee, may from time to time determine.

Participants in the Plan are permitted to transfer any amounts credited to an
account under the Prime Rate Option or any Measurement Fund Option on a daily
basis to any other deferral options offered under the Plan. Participants may
also transfer, on a daily basis, any amounts which have been deferred under the
Ralston Purina Equity Option for at least one year.

Benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees are unfunded. In
considering the options, you should note that your right to receive
distributions from the Plan is that of a general creditor of Ralston Purina
Company.

The Pension Source Act prohibits a state from taxing installment payments made
over a period of at least ten years to a former resident who is residing in a
non income tax bearing state at the time the installment payments are made.

Consider your deferral participation carefully and consult your personal advisor
if you have any questions. Please refer to the enclosed Deferred Compensation
Plan Prospectus for more details. Your election to defer may not be changed for
any reason.
<PAGE>   4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 21, 2000                     DEFERRAL ELECTION
                                  ATTACHMENT 3
                    MANAGEMENT CONTINUITY SEVERANCE BENEFITS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I.    DEFERRAL ELECTION. Please submit my request as follows with respect to
      Severance Benefits under Article 4a & c of the Management Continuity
      Agreement dated December 21, 2000 (the "MCA") that may be paid to me upon
      a Qualifying Termination following a Change in Control. I understand that
      an election to defer, once made, is IRREVOCABLE, and is subject to Human
      Resources Committee approval.

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW:

[ ]   NO DEFERRAL       Check here if you do not wish to defer any portion of
                        your MCA Severance Benefits. Ignore items 1) and 2) and
                        proceed to Part III below.

[ ]   DEFERRAL          Check here if you wish to defer any portion of your MCA
                        Severance Benefits. Complete items 1) and 2) and the
                        bottom section. NOTE: THIS DEFERRAL ELECTION WILL BE
                        GIVEN EFFECT ONLY IF A VALID INSTALLMENT PAYMENT OPTION
                        ELECTION IS ALSO IN PLACE. (SEE PART II, PAYMENT
                        ELECTION, BELOW.)

                  1)  Fill in one blank only:
                      Defer    %   OR   Defer all up to $________________
                      OR    Defer all in excess of $____________________

                  2) PLEASE ALLOCATE THE AMOUNT INDICATED IN ITEM 1) ABOVE IN
                     WHOLE PERCENTAGE INCREMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT(S):

<TABLE>
<S>     <C>                                           <C>    <C>                                               <C>
[  ]   Ralston Purina Equity Fund      _______%*      [  ]   Vanguard International Growth Fund                _______%
[  ]   Prime Rate Fund                 _______%       [  ]   Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund                 _______%
[  ]   Vanguard Wellington Fund        _______%       [  ]   Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund    _______%
[  ]   Vanguard 500 Index Fund         _______%       [  ]   Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund        _______%
[  ]   Vanguard Windsor II Fund        _______%       [  ]   Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund                 _______%
[  ]   Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund   _______%       [  ]                                                     _______%
                                                                                   TOTAL                          100 %
                                                                                                               =======
</TABLE>

*     Will convert to Prime Rate Fund upon the occurrence of a certain type of
      Change in Control.

         - THERE IS NO COMPANY MATCH ON ANY SEVERANCE BENEFITS DEFERRAL -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. PAYMENT ELECTION.

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW TO SELECT A PAYMENT OPTION. The election made below will
apply only to distributions from the Deferred Compensation Plan attributable to
MCA Severance Benefits deferrals. AN INSTALLMENT FORM ELECTION WILL APPLY ONLY
TO DISTRIBUTIONS OF MCA SEVERANCE BENEFITS RESULTING FROM A QUALIFYING
TERMINATION AS DEFINED UNDER THE MCA, THAT OCCURS AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS
FOLLOWING THE DATE THE INSTALLMENT FORM ELECTION IS COMPLETED.

(NOTE: If you have a current distribution election form on file with respect to
payments from your Deferred Compensation Plan account, and you wish such
distribution election also to apply to any deferred MCA Severance Benefits, this
Payment Election section does not have to be completed; rather, such election
form will also apply to distributions of your MCA Severance Benefits.)

   CHECK ONE:     [ ]   5 ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS     [ ]    10 ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
III.

______________________________                   _______________________________
Social Security Number                           Signature

______________________________                   _______________________________
Today's Date                                     Name (Type or Print)

______________________________                   _______________________________
Division                                         Department             Location
<PAGE>   5
______________________________       ____        _______________________________
Home Street Address                  City          State                Zip

    THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED TO COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT - 1A NO LATER THAN
                                JANUARY 20, 2001

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