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

BOSTON (Aug. 15, 2009) - A 14-pound rookie racer named Roo won PETCO’s Fifth Annual Chihuahua Races regional event at the Mansfield PETCO store today, setting her sights on the finals and some stiff competition in New York on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.

Roo wowed a crowd of approximately 300 spectators, and beat out 100 other pint-sized racers with a final speed of 2 seconds on the 35-foot-long (1/18th furlong) track. A resident of Portland, Conn., Roo moves on to the finals and a shot at the coveted title of America’s Fastest Chihuahua.

The 3 ½ -year-old Chihuahua is a first-time racer and only had two days to practice before entering the competition.

“We just found out about this regional event two day ago, so we didn’t have much time to prepare,” said proud pet parent Alyse Dunbar. “We just practiced at home before traveling. It’s so exciting!”

In second place behind Roo was Minnie, with pet parent Joe Escaler, and rounding out the podium was Parsnip, with pet parent Virginia Hinrichsen, in third place.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston, 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.

Roo and six other regional winners– one pup and two human companions from each regional race market – won 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 attending the finals to see which pup triumphs, can visit PETCO.com/races  or facebook.com/PETCO for more details.

“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 6,200 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