FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Diving Dog Tour Makes A Splash at the North Georgia State Fair
Tour Gives Local Dogs A Shot at Qualifying to Compete Against Some of the Most Talented Canines in the World
Ketchum, Idaho (September 12, 2008) -- Dog enthusiasts are in for a special treat this year as the National Diving Dog Tour presented by Oust® and Purina® makes a splash Sept. 13-14 at the Tennessee State Fair. During this event, canine athletes will race down a 40-foot dock and launch into a 20,000 gallon pool of water, landing jumps of more than 25 feet.
Georgia is the final stop on the six-city national tour, which kicked off in Augusta, N.J., on Aug. 2. The diving competition is open to everyday, local dogs and begins on Saturday Sept. 20 with an elimination series that will produce a final field of the top dogs jumping off in the finale on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The dog with the longest jump during the entire national tour will compete against other top dogs at the invitation-only Purina® Incredible Dog Challenge® National Finals on Oct. 3 and 4, 2008, in Gray Summit, Mo.
The Diving Dog event features dogs of all breeds and sizes and is recognized as one of most exciting canine sporting events by spectators and competitors alike. During the event, handlers encourage the dog to dive by throwing a bumper or toy into the pool. The length of the dive is determined by where the tip of the dog’s nose hits the water.
"Oust® is thrilled to be sponsoring the National Diving Dog Tour," said Jenny Taylor, director global public affairs at SC Johnson. "The event provides us with a great opportunity to interact with pet owners and communicate the odor eliminating benefits of Oust®."
The Diving Dog Tour presented by Oust® and Purina® is produced by Carson International Inc., the leading producer of dog entertainment and television programming in the country. Carson International, Inc., and Nestle Purina Petcare® first took organized athletic dog competitions mainstream in 1998 with the development of the Purina® Incredible Dog Challenge®, which featured diving dog as part of the lineup of events. The 2008 National Diving Dog Tour marks the first involvement of Oust® in the field of athletic dog events.
"The National Diving Dog Tour is a great extension to the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge because it widens our competition’s reach to ensure we find the very best diving dogs from around the country," said Jim Allen, director of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, Nestlé Purina PetCare. "Purina believes that any dog has the ability to be incredible if given good nutrition, proper training and an outlet for showcasing his abilities, which is exactly what this Tour is all about".
Paul Carson, chief executive officer of Carson International, Inc., said, "We’re excited to bring these diving dog events to cities nationwide on behalf of our sponsors, the Oust brand of S.C. Johnson® and Nestle Purina Petcare®. With their support, thousands of people across the county will be able to witness amazing canine athletes in action."
Dog owners are encouraged to pre-register their dogs for the competition by calling Carson International, at (208) 726-5990 x203; or visiting www.carsonevents.com, where they will find an application and additional details. The field is limited to the first 50 dogs to sign up at each tour stop.
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ATTENTION MEDIA: Great photo and interview opportunities are available prior to and during the event. We can also provide you with b-roll footage. Or, to view video footage online, go to www.carsonevents.com.
About SC Johnson®
SC Johnson is a family-owned and -managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE®, GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 122-year old company, with more than $7.5 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.
About Nestlé Purina®
The North American headquarters for the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina Company was founded more than a century ago. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A. – the world’s largest food company. For more information, visit www.purina.com.
About Carson International, Inc.
Carson International, Inc. is the country’s leading producer of canine-oriented events and TV production. The Purina® Incredible Dog Challenge® has been broadcast for 11 consecutive years on either ABC, NBC, Bravo, ESPN/ espn2, TBS Superstation, USA Network or PAX Network. Carson International, Inc., also produces the Show Dog Championship Series annually for ESPN and is a partner with NBC on The National Dog Show presented by Purina®, which is telecast annually on Thanksgiving Day immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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