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Saturday, April 26, 2008
Five More Portable Champions Triumph in PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua Races
 Nearly a thousand frisky, pocket-size competitors participated in the PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua races Saturday vying for a chance to join the pack of America's fastest portable pooches.
On the second weekend of the annual derby, regional races were held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Dallas and Seattle.
It was a celebration of all Chihuahuas: those with unwavering focus who sprinted into the waiting arms of their pet parents in the blink of an eye, as well as those who happily hopped around the race track checking out the competition, and yes, occasionally, taking a U-turn back to the starting gates.
 But in the end it was down to the fastest ones: Bones in Chicagoland, Poncho Villa in Seattle and three returning regional champs, Tiger in L.A., Papageorgio in the D.C. area and Cricket in Dallas.
The final round of doggie derbies will be held on May 3 in San Francisco, Boston, Denver, San Diego and New York when the last five regional champions will be decided. For more information and to pre-register visit www.petco.com/petcounleashed.
The 15 regional champions will head to San Diego to battle it out in front of cheering crowds between innings of a major league baseball game at PETCO Park, on Aug. 31.
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Saturday, April 19, 2008
And They're Off!
Five Regional Champions Prevail in PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua Races
 On your bark, get set, go!
Hundreds of pint-sized competitors and their human companions came together Saturday to celebrate the word's tiniest breed of dog during five regional PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua races.
Races were held in Orlando, Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento and Orange County. Ten more regional championships will be held over the next two weekends nationwide.
Featherweight competitors sprinted - or strolled - down a 1/18th furlong (35-foot-long) race track in front of cheering spectators and five fierce racers prevailed: Brownie in Orlando, Piccolo in Houston, Isabelle in Sacramento, Kahlua in Phoenix and Mijo in Orange County.
The regional champions will head to San Diego to battle it out in front of cheering crowds between innings of a major league baseball game at PETCO Park, home to the San Diego Padres, on Aug. 31.
Only one will triumph to win the coveted title of America's Fastest Chihuahua, a trophy, a $300 PETCO gift card and a year's supply of Royal Canin Chihuahua food - approximately 12 times the average Chihuahua's weight.
Click on the video below to see Orlando's portable pooches and their pet parents enjoy the day at the races Saturday.
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Saturday, April 12, 2008
Guide Dogs of the Desert Open New Palm Springs Depot
Promoting our new program to support Guide Dogs of the Desert, a PETCO team attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the organization’s new Guide Dog Depot in downtown Palm Springs, Calif.
 Since it is very expensive to raise and train guide dogs, many visually impaired people cannot afford to buy a guide dog so Natural Balance and PETCO teamed up to provide free food to Guide Dogs of the Desert and to raise additional money for the organization, which places service dogs to visually impaired people throughout California, Arizona and New Mexico.
A large crowd turned out in support of the Guide Dogs, including Natural Balance owner and actor Dick Van Patten. In addition, pop superstar Barry Manilow - who lives in Palm Springs, also attracted fans, newspaper photographers and CBS television who were covering the event.
For a limited time, PETCO stores on the West Coast will carry specially marked large bags of Natural Balance formulas. Natural Balance will donate $.50 for each specially marked bag sold at PETCO.
Additionally, PETCO stores on the West Coast will also host a "round up" fundraiser with the funds going to Guide Dogs of the Desert.
I am really impressed with Guide Dogs of the Desert and how true they are to their mission to help the visually impaired through the human-animal bond. It was an honor for me to represent PETCO to Guide Dogs of the Desert
Rick Rockhill
Merchandise Manager
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Thursday, April 03, 2008
Green Products Now a Click Away for PETCO Customers
Recognizing that more and more pet parents are looking for eco-friendly products that are healthy for their pets and the environment alike, PETCO has recently launched a one-stop green online destination called the Green Shop.
From natural and organic food and treats to environmentally friendly toys, grooming products, carpet cleaners and cat litter - green products spanning various aspects of sustainability are now just a click away for PETCO customers.
The Green Shop is a simple acknowledgement that the "green trend" is not a fad and is here to stay for both our company and for our customers. The Green Shop products are made with all-natural ingredients and materials and support sustainable production processes.
Among the many products featured in the Green Shop is PETCO's reusable shopping bag, which online shoppers give a top five-paws rating.
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Wednesday, April 02, 2008
April's Very Important Pet (VIP) Days
April has an array of very important pet days - and is most notably labeled the Prevention of Animal Cruelty month by the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). PETCO and the ASPCA urges people to spend time this month to educate themselves and others about existing animal cruelty laws and to support pending legislation.
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that make intentional cruelty a felony charge. Intentional abuse is just that - hitting, choking, kicking, deliberate starvation, etc. Unintentional abuse comes from ignorance; the abuser does not know how to care for the pet and in many states such unintentional abuse can lead to misdemeanor charges.
Below is a list of April's Very Important Pet (VIP) days. Be sure to mark your calendar!
Months:
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
World Habitat Awareness Month
National Pet First-Aid Month
National Frog Month
Weeks:
2nd week - National Week of the Ocean (Nat'l Week of the Ocean)
3rd week - Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (HSUS)
3rd week - National Pet ID Week
3rd week - National Wildlife Week (National Wildlife Federation)
Last week - National Park Week (National Park Service)
Last week - National Scoop the Poop Week
Days:
April 2 - National Ferret Day
April 2 - National Tag Day
April 4 - World Rat Day
April 7 - World Penguin Day
April 14 - National Dolphin Day
April 27 - National Hairball Awareness Day
April 28 - World Veterinary Day
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Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Natural, Organic Products Continue to Grow in Popularity
Last month a PETCO team attended the Natural Products Expo West - the largest natural, organic, and healthy products trade show in the nation.
This trade show was a great preview of where the natural and organic category is heading and is a great way for us to look for emerging trends and products and see how they can apply to the pet industry, our company and our customers.
Consumer demand for organic products continues to fuel the category with more and more suppliers focusing on sustainable production processes and farming practices.
Among more than 1,800 exhibitors showcasing their wares across more than 300,000 square feet of the Anaheim Convention Center in California were several leading manufacturers of natural pet foods, including Pet Promise, Castor and Pollux, and Halo, Purely for Pets.
Also at the Expo West, I met one of the leading advocates for organic products- health guru Dr. Andrew Weil who was the special guest speaker at a reception about pet foods, the benefits of sustainable farming and ranching, and organic food production.
I was a guest of Pet Promise, a natural pet food company founded to create a pure pet food, and committed to natural growing methods and a healthy environment.
Dr. Weil actually endorses Pet Promise because of how they produce their pet food by using only source-verified, natural ingredients from ranchers who guarantee meat and poultry free of added hormones and antibiotics.
Later I attended the Organic Trade Association reception, followed by The Organic Center VIP dinner where Dr. Weil addressed the audience. The evening was hosted by green living expert and TV host Sara Snow, who introduced Dr. Weil to an audience of manufacturers, retailers, organic farmers and ranchers.
As part of PETCO’s support for sustainability efforts, PETCO presented The Organic Center with a $5,000 donation in support for organic farming techniques, which are earth-friendly and prohibit harmful pesticides and chemicals in farming and ranching.
We are pleased to help programs sponsored by The Organic Center that will ultimately increase the commercial supply of high quality ingredients for pet foods.
-Rick Rockhill
Merchandise Manager, Dog Food
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