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PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. announces the grand opening of the new Baltimore, MD store, located at 8640 Pulaski Highway, Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13. The three-day celebration will include a variety of contests, games and information for pets and their people.

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

Friday's festivities will include a Best Pet Photo Contest, as well as information on professional pet photography and PETCO obedience training. Saturday and Sunday will feature a Biggest/Smallest Dog Contest, Pet Games and a Yappy Hour with treats for humans and animals alike. The event will feature entertainment for the kids as well, including clown fun, a coloring contest and hamster races. In addition, to demonstrate the store's commitment to adoptions, Lucky Cat Rescue will be on hand to find loving homes for orphaned companion animals.

As part of the effort to encourage adoptions, PETCO stores offer Adoption Gift Booklets to new pet parents. All the new pet parents have to do is take their adoption papers to any PETCO, and they will receive a free gift booklet with savings of up to $180 on store products and services to help welcome their new family member home.

"People in the Rosedale area have already given the store their seal of approval," says Store General Manager Scott Lucas. "We really hope this weekend will give us the opportunity to introduce even more Marylanders to PETCO."

The 15,000 square foot store features a small animal and reptile area, fresh and saltwater fish aquariums, a bird area and a grooming salon. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

To find the Baltimore store, or any other PETCO location, visit PETCO's website at www.petco.com .

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 630 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.

SOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.