STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) – At the height of his fame, Kiki’s jumping prowess won him spots on national television shows, canine competitions and in the record books.

The black Labrador retriever, who set two world records for jumping more than 25 feet off docks, died last week when he escaped his fenced-in Stamford yard and was struck by a car, his owner said. “I’m still in shock, a week later, that my boy is not here,” said owner Chris Litwin, who, with his wife Chika, trained the dog since it was a puppy.

The 8-year-old dog appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman,” Animal Planet and ESPN at the height of his popularity.

He also set the world records in 2001 and 2002, holding the record for four years.

Condolences have been pouring in since Kiki’s death on July 28, and the Litwins and other fans say his legacy will continue through the annual dog-jumping Kiki Classic competition. This year’s fourth annual classic is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 7 in Millerton, N.Y.

News of Kiki’s death has spread through the community of dog enthusiasts.

“It was a heartbreaker because this was a dog who grew up in our store,” said Andy Avigdor, general manager of Norwalk-based Choice Pet Supply, one of Kiki’s sponsors.

With help from a neighbor, Litwin buried Kiki last week in his backyard, where Kiki had already started digging a 3-foot hole.

“We figured he started it,” he said, “so we finished it.”

www.stamfordadvocate.com

AP-ES-08-05-07 1609EDT