Posted Thursday, April 17, 2008, 2:07p.m., EST

WWPIA president Doug Poindexter unveiled details of the competition at a launch event at America’s Family Pet Expo.

The World Wide Pet Industry Association is organizing “Canine Runway: The search for America’s most paw-pular pooch,” a dog model competition designed to unite dog owners and media with pet specialty retailers, who will host local competitions, and pet product manufacturers, who will provide prizes.

In the three-tiered competition, dog owners begin by registering their dogs to compete at 12 preliminary local competitions to be held at 12 pet stores in Los Angeles and Orange County. WWPIA has not finalized the stores when it launched the concept during its America’s Family Pet Expo in Orange County in April. Dog owners can register their dogs through WWPIA’s Petsource.org website.

The Monrovia, Calif.-headquartered WWPIA expects local journalists and pet owners will attend and/or participate in these events, thereby introducing them to pet retailers.

Matt Gallant, host of Animal Planet’s “The Planet’s Funniest Animals,” hosted the launch event, which included a dog fashion show.

Two finalists from each of the preliminary competitions will move on to a finals competition to be held at one of the initial 12 retailers, at which four finalists will be selected to compete in the grand finals competition.

The grand finals competition will be held at WWPIA’s SuperZoo industry trade show for retailers in Las Vegas, Sept. 9-11.

The dogs will be judged on appearance, talent and overall presentation.

The grand prize package will include a trip to El Portal Sedona, a bed-and-breakfast in Arizona owned by WWPIA chairman Steve Segner, and a year’s supply of Natural Balance dog food. Other contest sponsors include Bamboo Pet Products, NuHemp, Fido Friendly, Dog Fancy and Pet Style News.

Both Dog Fancy and Pet Style News are published by BowTie Inc., publisher of Pet Product News. <HOME>