Tiny Terror Kicks Tail: San Francisco's Top Chihuahua Advances to America's Fastest Chihuahua Championship Race in San Diego

SAN FRANCISCO, 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. Nearly 120 dogs participated in the event Saturday in the San Francisco market, held at the PETCO store in Santa Rosa.

Tiger, a 2-year-old, 8-pound Chihuahua owned and trained by Cathy Smith of Bakersfield, Calif., prevailed in the four-dog final race down the 1/18th furlong (35-foot-long) track.

"I had total confidence and I was so sure that we drove six hours to compete," Smith said after the victory.

Tiger next will compete closer to home as he 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. The championship race will be run 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 San Francisco featured a dozen preliminary heats of 10 Chihuahuas. Trailing winner Tiger, Martina placed and Clarabelle finished strongly to show. Martina, a 2-year-old, 10-pound short hair Chihuahua owned by Debra Myers of Menlo Park, Calif., received a one-year supply of Chihuahua food from race co-sponsor Royal Canin. Clarabelle, a 2-year-old, 11-pound short hair Chihuahua owned by Travis and Kristel Krepelka of Boulder Creek, Calif., received a $25 PETCO gift card. 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.

Tiger -- who does agility training and competes in "fly ball" (where dogs race down a track with hurdles to retrieve tennis balls) -- stood out in a field that included competitors in a polka-dot dress and a lime-green sweater.

"I made sure he saw me at the other end [of the track], and just cheered him on, saying: 'Run, run, run,'" Tiger's proud owner Smith said.

Regional races also took place Saturday in Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami, 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 San Francisco 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 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 [phone] direct [phone] direct [phone] direct [phone] cell [phone] cell [phone] [e-mail]