Mimi is Named Top Dog at Anaheim Regionals;

Travels to New York for a Chance to be Named America’s Fastest Chihuahua

Anaheim, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2009) – Proving she is the Orange County area’s fastest Chihuahua, a pooch named Mimi won PETCO’s Fifth Annual Chihuahua Races regional event in Anaheim today, setting her sights on the finals in New York on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.

Mimi wowed a crowd of approximately 350 spectators, and beat out more than 160 other pint-sized racers with a final speed of 2.6 seconds on the 35-foot-long (1/18th furlong) track. From Pico Rivera, Calif., Mimi moves on to the finals and a shot at the coveted title of America’s Fastest Chihuahua.

The 3-year-old Chihuahua, has been training regularly for the races running three miles several times per week in hopes to score the national title. 

“I’m so excited,” said proud pet parent Susana Rucobo.   “I can’t believe we won! This isn’t our first time racing, but our first time to win.  I’ve never been to New York before but I’m going to train with her to make her the national winner!”

In second place behind Mimi was Vino, with pet parent A’Briana Cortes, and rounding out the podium was Lucy, with pet parent Debra Lawson, in third place.

Little Bow Wow Rescue, one of PETCO’s local adoption partners, was also on site to help raise awareness of Chihuahuas as companion animals, and find loving homes for homeless Chihuahuas.

Mimi 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 the regional races 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 Greg Seremetis, PETCO director of marketing services.

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.

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.

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