January 18, 2002--Jackson Hole, Wyoming--Top international sled dog teams arrive in Jackson Hole this week for the seventh International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR). Limited to 30 teams, the largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states begins in Jackson Hole on January 26, and continues through 450 miles of backcountry before finishing in Teton Village on February 6.

"We expect teams to be registering up to the last minute," said Race Director Frank Teasley. "Last year, one team decided four days before the race to load up their truck and drive down from Alaska. We limit the race to 30 teams, but won’t know the exact number until close to the race start."

Four-time Iditarod Champion Doug Swingley from Lincoln, Montana; three-time Alpirod Champion Jacques Philip, Nenana, Alaska; 2000 IPSSSDR third place and 2001 IPSSSDR second place winner, Melanie Shirilla from Lincoln, Montana; International Sled Dog Racing Association Gold Medal Winner Joseph Loveless, Roy,Washington; and Grant Beck, Yellowknife NWT, ranked fourth in the International Federation of Sleddog Sports Mid-Distance World Cup Program are among the teams registered to race in the 2002 IPSSSDR, a qualifying event for the Iditarod.

Festivities begin in Jackson Hole, Friday, January 25, 6:00 p.m. with "Meet the Mushers" reception at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.  The event is open to the public; tickets are $15 at the door.  On Saturday, January 26, commencing at 9:00 a.m., a Winter Festival sponsored by Rotary Clubs within Jackson will provide activities before and after the race at the corner of Deloney and Center Streets.  Local merchants will sell food, clothing and race merchandise, a variety of activities are planned following the race including "Best Pet Trick" Contest with prizes sponsored by Pedigree. At 10:00 a.m., teams depart in two minute intervals on a three-mile run from Town Square to Cache Creek Canyon.

The Pedigree brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society.  Such programs include Homeward Bound, a national pet adoption support program to encourage adoption of the nation’s 12 million homeless animals; the National Association for Search and Rescue; police canine units; and non-profit organizations that train and place service dogs for hearing and visually impaired people.  During the 2002 IPSSSDR, Pedigree Food For Dogs will host a daily web cast on its web site, www.pedigree.com that will feature video footage of the race. Through HOMEWARD BOUND, Pedigree will make a donation to animal shelters for each visitor to the site during the race.

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Sled Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. The event is supported by Wyoming businesses including Team Dog Sponsors Union Cellular, Bank of Jackson Hole and JacksonHoleNet.com. For more information, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org, contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com or call (307) 734-1163.