A Tail Waggin' Jingle Contest!

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Is life with your four-legged friend so full of "tail waggin'" good fun that it makes you want to sing out loud? Then Country Music Star Trace Adkins wants to hear from you.

Starting today, dog owners can enter the Waggin' Train® Tail Waggin Jingle Contest by creating an original jingle for Waggin' Train® brand dog snacks with lyrics that describe how they enjoy a "tail waggin' good time" with their four-legged friend.  One lucky Grand Prize Winner will win the chance of a lifetime to meet Trace Adkins during CMA Awards week in Nashville, TN, and perform his or her jingle in a recording session produced by the Country Music star. The winner will also receive an autographed CD of their jingle and it may be featured on both the www.WagginTrainBrand.com and the brand's page on Facebook.

For many dog owners, there is nothing more enjoyable than spending carefree moments with their dogs, such as a walk in the park, a spontaneous game of fetch or a belly rub.  Waggin' Train brand dog snacks is inviting dog owners to celebrate these moments by creating a fun, catchy jingle that captures the good times they share with their dogs.  From now through August 3, dog owners can visit www.WagginTrainBrand.com and enter the contest by uploading their lyrics and a 60-second video showing them performing their original jingle with their dog.  Five finalists will be flown to Nashville during CMA Awards week in November 2011 to perform their jingles at a private event in front of contest judge Trace Adkins who will then select one Grand Prize Winner.

"I own two dogs who remind me to enjoy the simple things in life and inspire me in so many ways, including my music.  That's why I've teamed up with Waggin' Train for the Tail Waggin' Jingle Contest to find other dog owners across America who have such great relationships with their dogs that they are inspired to write a song about it," said Adkins. "This contest is not just for dog owners who happen to be musicians -- it's for anyone who has such a tail waggin' good time with their dog it makes them want to sing a song."

Following the entry period, 20 semi-finalists' entries will be posted on www.WagginTrainBrand.com for consumer voting August 22 - September 2, 2011. During this voting period, five finalists will be selected by the consumer vote (20% of the final score) and by Trace Adkins who will judge the semifinalist entries (80% of the final score) using the following criteria:

• Jingle describes the good times enjoyed by the entrant and his/her dog (50%)
• Musical performance reinforces Waggin' Train wholesome fun personality (25%)
• Overall creativity/originality (25%)

Five finalists will be flown to Nashville during CMA Awards week in November 2011 where they will perform their jingle at a private event in front of Trace Adkins, who will judge each finalist and select one Grand Prize Winner.  The Grand Prize Winner will win the chance of a lifetime to perform his/her jingle in a recording session produced by the Country Music star.  

"The Waggin' Train brand is all about celebrating the fun, carefree moments we share with our dogs," said Sean Boland, Waggin' Train brand director.  "We are excited to launch our first-ever jingle contest and can't wait to hear all the toe-tapping, tail waggin' songs from dog owners across the country."

Waggin' Train offers a full line of wholesome snacks made from natural ingredients that dogs love, including jerky treats, chews, dental bones and wellness products.  The popular snacks offer a fun way to share carefree moments with your dog.  

The Tail Waggin' Jingle Contest kicks off at the 2011 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN, June 9-11 (www.CMAfest.com). For more information on the contest and to get the official rules, go to www.WagginTrainBrand.com.  No purchase is necessary to participate.  The Contest is open to amateur songwriters who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older (19 years of age in AL or NE) at time of entry,  and who own a dog.  

About Nestle Purina PetCare Company

The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. Nestle 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, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A. – the world's largest food company.

About CMA Music Festival

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, CMA Music Festival is an unparalleled music experience. Taking place Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, this event brings the music industry together with fans from around the world. The 2011 CMA Music Festival will once again be filmed for an ABC Television Network special to air later this summer. Four-day ticket packages are on sale and fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased through CMAfest.com or (800) CMA-FEST.  Fans should order their tickets now to guarantee their place at the event USA Today named "the crown jewel of Country Music festivals" and the reigning winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association's (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010) LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year. Visit CMAfest.com for more information.  

SOURCE Nestle Purina PetCare Company