Celebrating America’s Fastest – and Not So Fast – Tiniest Canines
San Diego (Vocus) April 3, 2008 -- On your bark, get set, go! The PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua races are back in search for America’s fastest of the tiniest breed of dog. Thousands of pint-sized competitors with larger-than-life personalities will show their might during 15 regional championships held nationwide on three consecutive weekends starting April 19.
Accompanied by their human family members, featherweight competitors will sprint – or stroll – down a 1/18th furlong (35-foot-long) race track. Regional winners will be awarded a trip to San Diego to battle it out against 14 other regional champions in front of cheering crowds between innings of a major league baseball game at PETCO Park, home to the San Diego Padres, on Aug. 31.
Only one will triumph to win the coveted title of America’s Fastest Chihuahua, a trophy, a $300 PETCO gift card and a year’s supply of Royal Canin Chihuahua food – approximately 12 times the average Chihuahua’s weight.
Regional races will be held on April 19 in Orlando, Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento and Anaheim, Calif.; on April 26 in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Seattle; and on May 3 in San Francisco, Boston, Denver, San Diego and New York.
Participants can now secure a spot at the 4th annual PETCO Unleashed races by pre-registering at www.petco.com/petcounleashed. Up to 300 spots are available at each location through online registration; a limited number of spots will be also available on the race day.
Pet parents attending the event will receive special PETCO Unleashed T-shirts and matching Chihuahua outfits – in sizes X and XS – which will be given at each location to the first 200 PETCO P.A.L.S. members who spend $25 or more at the PETCO store hosting the race.
Chihuahuas are the 12th most popular purebred dog breed in the country, according to the American Kennel Club. They are also considered the smallest and lightest dogs in the world.
PETCO and the races’ presenting sponsor Royal Canin hold the event to celebrate the joy all companion animals bring to their pet parents and to encourage all animal lovers to consider adoption as the first option when adding a pet to their family.
As in the past years, PETCO and the PETCO Foundation will work with Chihuahua adoption groups during the event.
“Chihuahuas may be the world’s smallest dogs, but they make a huge difference in the lives of their human families,” said Heather Olson, strategic partnerships and promotions manager at PETCO. “During the PETCO Unleashed races we celebrate the human-animal bond and remind people that there are millions of adoptable pets – including Chihuahuas – waiting for loving homes.”
About PETCO
PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 900 stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at www.PETCO.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $41 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the foundation, we work with and support more than 5,000 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.
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