Ivey is Named Top Dog at Chicago Regionals; Travels to New York for a Chance to be Named America’s Fastest Chihuahua

CHICAGO (Aug. 8, 2009) – Proving that speed runs in the family, a hearty 11-pound pooch named Ivey won PETCO’s Fifth Annual Chihuahua Races regional event at the Naperville PETCO store today, beating out her own mother, Chalupa, a three-time regional winner and the first to reign as America’s Fastest Chihuahua back in 2005. Now, Ivey sets her sights on bringing the national title back into the family at the championship race in New York on Saturday, Aug. 29. 

Ivey wowed a crowd of approximately 750 spectators who braved the inclement weather, and beat out more than 200 other pint-sized racers with a final speed of 2.5 seconds on the 35-foot-long (1/18th furlong) track. A Hammond native, Ivey moves on to the finals and a shot at the coveted title of America’s Fastest Chihuahua.

The six-year-old Chihuahua participated in last year’s race, making it to the semi-finals. Ivey’s mother, Chalupa, won the Midwest regionals in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and was the grand champion at PETCO’s first Chihuahua Race competition in 2005. The goal has been for Ivey to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

“Ivey has been training for the races by chasing and following Chalupa – they race for meat,” said proud pet parent Alfonso Salinas III. “But we definitely saw a passing of the torch today.” Ivey beat her mother’s previous track record by 0.1 seconds.

In second place behind Ivey was Bella, with pet parent Kim Kriegel, and rounding out the podium was Pebbles, with pet parent Elise Altamroe, in third place.

PETCO also handed out a “Spirit Award” to Tinkerbell, her pet parent Kristin Ludwig and 15 children from the Mooseheart Children’s Home. The group came donned in pink clothing, sporting posters and other pink paraphernalia to cheer for Tinkerbell with the enthusiastic cheer, “Think Pink – Go Tink!” The group donated their prize to the Naperville Humane Society.

Ivey and six other regional winners– one pup and two human companions from each regional race market – win an all-expense-paid trip, courtesy of PETCO and JetBlue Airways, New York’s pet friendly hometown airline (jetblue.com/jetpaws), to race head-to-head at the finals in New York City’s Riverside Park at the end of the month.

The grand prize includes a trophy, a $300 PETCO gift card, a year’s supply of Royal Canin Chihuahua food – approximately 12 times the average Chihuahua’s weight – and official bragging rights as America’s Fastest Chihuahua.

Those interested in watching or participating in other regional races or the finals can visit PETCO.com/races  or facebook.com/PETCO for more details and to sign up.

“This year we’re not only racing from the West Coast to the East Coast, we’re also using the races as a way to show people how easy, safe and fulfilling it can be to be ‘on the go’ with our four-legged companions – or how to best arrange for their safe and comfortable care back home while away on vacation,” said PETCO’s Chief Marketing Officer Elisabeth Charles. For more details on how you can travel safely with or without your pet, visit www.petco.com/letsgo.

Chihuahuas are the 12th most popular dog breed in the country, according to the American Kennel Club. They are also considered the smallest and lightest dogs in the world.

In partnership with the PETCO Foundation, the races also highlight PETCO’s Think Adoption First philosophy to help find forever homes for abandoned Chihuahuas and other animals.

###

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 950 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at PETCO.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $50 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 5,700 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

Contact:           Lisa Epstein, 858.997.4540, lisae@PETCO.com
                            Courtney Pendleton, 619.237.7722, courtney.pendleton@fleishman.com