'Spring A Pet' Fundraiser Tops $1.5 Million Mark

'Spring A Pet' Fundraiser Tops $1.5 Million Mark
PETCO Foundation's Annual Effort Will Aid 1,900 Animal Welfare Organizations
Nationwide 


SAN DIEGO, April 12  /PRNewswire/ -- Customers, vendors and associates of PETCO
Animal Supplies, Inc. once again demonstrated their compassion for animals by
giving generously to the PETCO Foundation's annual "Spring a Pet" fundraiser.
The event, which ran from March 7 to April 11, raised $1,510,239 for grass roots
animal welfare organizations located in or near PETCO store communities, getting
a leg up on their goal of $1.3 million.

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

"Our customers, vendors and associates have once again shown tremendous
compassion and a strongwillingness to help animals in our store communities,"
PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said. "They continue to put the well-being
of animals above day-to-day concerns such as the economy and gas prices."

Last year's fundraiser collected just over$1.2 million. This year, more than
1,900 grass-roots animal welfare organizations will benefit from this money.
Each store selected a charitable partner or partners -- such as pet adoption
groups or spay/neuter efforts -- to receive funding raised by their individual
location. Like other PETCO Foundation fundraisers, the money helps within the
store communities in which it is raised. In addition, a portion of the money
goes into regional funds to help animal welfare groups throughout the year.
Donations were also made Online at http://www.petco.com/.

"Animals across the country will lead better lives, and stand a better chance at
finding permanent, loving homes as a result of these funds," Jolly added. "This
year's PETCO Foundation Spring A Pet fundraiser exceeded last year's effort by
more than 20%, clearly demonstrating the caring bond for companion animals
within the PETCO family."

PETCO (NASDAQ:PETC) is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food and
supplies, 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 660
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 PETCOFoundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $16
million since inception in 1999.  More than 1,900 non-profit grassroots animal
welfare organizations from around the nation have received support from the
Foundation. Through the PETCO Foundation, PETCO endeavors to be a community
leader in promoting the welfare of companion animals, as well as the importance
of the human-animal bond. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGODATASOURCE: PETCO
Foundation



CONTACT:  Shawn Underwood of PETCO, [phone], 



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

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