Tiny Terror Kicks Tail: Dallas' Top Chihuahua Advances to America's Fastest Chihuahua Championship Race in San Diego
04 June 2006 - 6:09AM
PR Newswire (US)
Chihuahuas Scamper to Local PETCO to Compete for Regional Title
DALLAS, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- They might be America's smallest
breed of dog, but they sure are lightning-quick. Chihuahuas of all
sizes came together today to compete for the coveted title of
America's Fastest Chihuahua in the second annual PETCO Unleashed
regional qualifying races. 200 dogs participated in the event
Saturday in the Dallas market, held at the PETCO store at 1401 East
Spring Valley Road in Richardson. Sam, a 2-year-old, 6-pound short
hair owned and trained by 10-year-old Jessica Seagroves of Dallas,
held off several late challengers to pull away down the stretch to
claim victory. Chicken and sausage-flavored treats helped coax Sam
to the finish line. After covering the 1/18th furlong
(35-foot-long) track in 3.2 seconds in the final round of the
Dallas regional races, Sam (a male) secured one of only seven spots
in the PETCO Unleashed 2006 National Chihuahua Race to be held at
PETCO Park in San Diego on Sept. 3. Sam and two human companions
will head to sunny San Diego where they will compete in the title
race during a San Diego Padres baseball game in front of tens of
thousands of cheering fans. Besides earning the bragging rights of
being "America's Fastest Chihuahua," the national winner will
receive a trophy, $300 PETCO gift card and more than 12 times the
average Chihuahua's weight in Royal Canin Chihuahua food (a year's
supply). "The PETCO Unleashed Fastest Chihuahua race is about
getting people and their pets together for a few hours of fun to
celebrate what we call the human-animal bond," said Clint White,
PETCO Manager of Strategic Partnership and Promotions. "Chihuahuas
are great companion animals, and we hope the races will bring added
attention to the adoption of these great pets." The Chihuahua is
the 11th most popular purebred dog breed in the United States,
according to the American Kennel Club. Measuring 6 to 8 inches at
the withers and weighing in at 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 pounds, the dogs are
considered the smallest and lightest dogs in the world. Saturday's
event in Dallas featured 20 heats of 10 Chihuahuas. All competitors
took home a 2006 PETCO Unleashed goody bag, a T-shirt for their
owner and a 3-pound bag of Royal Canin Chihuahua food. "We just let
him run around the house," said Jessica Seagroves of Sam. "He runs
around the house all of the time. He just loves to run!" Seagroves
just came home from summer camp and was thrilled to start her
vacation with a victory. I am just so happy for my dog and I think
he's happy, too!" Regional races also took place today in Chicago,
Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, with races in New York City
and San Diego scheduled for June 10. One regional winner from each
race will compete for the championship title. PETCO is sponsoring
the race to celebrate America's fastest-growing small breed of dog
and to encourage customers to consider adoption as a first option.
For nearly 40 years, the company has worked with local shelters
nationwide to find homes for millions of homeless animals. "People
in PETCO stores throughout Dallas are passionate about doing the
right thing for animals, and we regularly work with local animal
care organizations to hold adoption events in our stores to help
find good homes for abandoned animals," White said. PETCO and the
PETCO Foundation work with Chihuahua Rescue & Transport, Inc.,
across the country to create hundreds of adoption opportunities. To
find out more about how you can adopt a Chihuahua, visit
http://www.chihuahua-rescue.com/. Fast Chihuahua Facts: *
Chihuahuas are said to be able to travel up to 7 mph for short
distances. * Due to its diminutive size, the Chihuahua is
considered the ultimate indoor dog. * The smallest living dog ever
recorded is a Chihuahua. * In 2005, the Chihuahua was the 11th most
popular purebred dog in the U.S., according to the American Kennel
Club. The other most popular dogs are 1) Labrador Retriever; 2)
Golden Retriever; 3) Yorkshire Terrier; 4) German Shepherd; 5)
Beagle; 6) Dachshund; 7) Boxer; 8) Poodle; 9) Shih Tzu; 10)
Miniature Schnauzer. * The Chihuahua has become a popular pet among
celebrities. Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Jennifer
Lopez are just a few of the stars who own a pampered Chihuahua.
PETCO (NASDAQ:PETC) is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet
food, supplies and services with a commitment to quality animal
care and education. PETCO's strategy is to offer its customers a
complete assortment of pet- related products and services at
competitive prices, with superior levels of customer service at
convenient locations, by hiring pet lovers and training them to
become counselors to our pet-loving customers. PETCO operates
approximately 800 neighborhood stores in 49 states and the District
of Columbia, as well as a leading destination for online pet food
and supplies at http://www.petco.com/. Contacts: Melissa Levy Erin
Mathe Don Cowan Carmichael Lynch Spong Carmichael Lynch Spong PETCO
(612) 375-8533 direct (612) 375-8572 direct (858) 657-2086 direct
(612) 251-7081 cell (952) 261-8148 cell (619) 417-5244 cell
DATASOURCE: PETCO CONTACT: Melissa Levy, +1-612-375-8533 direct,
+1-612-251-7081 cell, , or Erin Mathe, +1-612-375-8572 direct,
+1-952-261-8148 cell, , both of Carmichael Lynch Spong; or Don
Cowan of PETCO, +1-858-657-2086 direct, +1-619-417-5244 cell, Web
site: http://www.chihuahua-rescue.com/ http://www.petco.com/
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