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More than 11,500 dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and ferrets are now bonding with new families, thanks to PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. and the PETCO Foundation's sponsorship of their National Adoption Days in early May. More than 1,000 grass-roots animal welfare groups held adoptions at PETCO's 620+ stores, as well as through PETCO's online adoption partner Petfinder.com.

For the sixth year, PETCO and its Foundation made a concerted two-day effort to place as many orphaned animals as possible in loving homes. Over the weekend of May 3-4, 11,527 animals found new families through this adoption drive.

"Our customers continue to demonstrate their compassion and love for animals," PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said. "This tremendous turnout, thanks in large part to the publicity help we received from our friends in the media, means 11,000 more pets will now lead long and happy lives with loving families."

PETCO's 620+ stores gave out pet goodie bags and provided special adoption gift booklets to new pet parents, to help defray the initial costs of providing for their adopted friends with food and toys for their improved environment. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and ferrets found homes during this event. Dogs (44%) and cats (41%) led the charge out of shelters, but 93 rabbits, 48 birds and 26 ferrets also found new homes. In addition, another 3,056 applications were filed with various adoption agencies, which will ultimately increase the total number of pets adopted as a result of this effort.

"This is a great start toward surpassing last year's adoption total," said Petfinder.com President Betsy Saul, noting that her organization -- with the help of sponsors like PETCO and the PETCO Foundation -- helped adopt more than one million animals in 2002. "And we want people to also realize that there are opportunities to adopt new companions every day of the year."

The American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that there are eight to 12 million pets relinquished to shelters and rescue groups each year. PETCO and Petfinder offer a second chance for those orphaned companion animals.

People interested in adopting a companion animal can visit their neighborhood PETCO store for information on upcoming in-store adoption events, or to their local animal shelter. To find a store near you, log on to www.petco.com . Or, to locate adoptable animals in your area, check out www.petfinder.com . PETCO offers their Adoption Gift Booklets year-round, free of charge to anyone who has adopted a pet from a shelter.

PETCO 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 generated net sales of $1.48 billion in the fiscal year ended February 1, 2003. It operates more than 620 neighborhood stores in 43 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading destination for on-line pet food and supplies at www.petco.com . The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $12 million since inception in 1999. More than 1,500 non-profit grassroots animal welfare organizations from around the nation have received support from the Foundation.

Petfinder.com is the nation's largest and oldest online adoption community. Working with more than 5,500 animal welfare organizations across the country, Petfinder.com offers a searchable database of adoptable companion animals.

SOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.