PETC Petco Animal Supplies

'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, +1-858-909-4662, Web site: http://www.petco.com/

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