PETCO Customers, Vendors Give Generously to Help Fire Victims

PETCO Customers, Vendors Give Generously to Help Fire Victims
PETCO and PETCO Foundation Raise Close to $200,000 in Emergency Fundraiser 


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Customers, vendors and associates
of PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. have responded tremendously to the needs of
animals in southern California affected by the recent wildfires, donating almost
$200,000 to the PETCO Foundation's emergency roundup fundraiser.  In addition,
Science Diet, Nutro and Petmate donated more than $30,000 in food and supplies
to PETCO's relief effort.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGO )

"People all over the country have once again rallied to the aid of animals,"
PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said.  "The fact that our customers,
vendors and associates have donated more than $220,000 in food, products and
funds in less than two weeks is really a testament to the care and compassion we
all share for animals in need."

The Round-Up fundraiser, which ran from October 27 through November 9, brought
in $193,078.94.  Additionally, Science Diet donated $14,000 in product, Nutro
$13,000 and Petmate $3,450.

PETCO customers in southern California turned to their local stores for help
with products for their animals, as many fled without even a change of clothes
for themselves.  In some cases, those customers could not take their pets to
human shelters and PETCO stores became animal sanctuaries.  Despite the fact
that many PETCO associates in those stores also had homes in danger, they stayed
at work to ensure evacuees could get the needed food and supplies for their two
and four-legged family members.

"The outpouring of support shown by our store associates truly demonstrates that
we are hiring animal lovers," Jolly added.  "Their first thoughts were always
for the animals, and our customers have shown their appreciation for that caring
through their generous donations."

Funds raised will go to various southern California animal welfare groups that
assisted people and their pets during this tragedy.

PETCO (NASDAQ:PETC) is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food,
supplies and services with a commitment to quality animal care and education.
PETCO's strategy is to offer its customers a complete assortment of pet- related
products and services at competitive prices, with superior levels of customer
service at convenient locations, by hiring pet lovers and training them to
become counselors to our pet-loving customers.  PETCO operates more than 650
neighborhood stores in 43 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a
leading destination for on-line pet food and supplies at http://www.petco.com/ .
 The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $13
million since inception in 1999.  More than 1,600 non- profit grassroots animal
welfare organizations from around the nation have received support from the
Foundation. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGO

http://photoarchive.ap.org/

DATASOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.



CONTACT:  Shawn Underwood of PETCO, [phone],  ;

or Paul Jolly of PETCO Foundation, [phone],  



Web site:  http://www.petco.com/

Copyright