news releases

PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. announces the grand opening of the new Downer's Grove, IL store, located at 1400 75th Street, Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September 28.

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

This three-day celebration of pets and people will include something for everyone with two legs or four, including a Best Dressed Pet Contest for the pets, free chair massages for the adults, and free face painting and a clown with balloon animals for the kids. In addition, a pet psychic will be at the grand opening to help people get in touch with their pets, and West Suburban Humane Society 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, with savings of up to $180 on store products and services to help welcome their new family member home.

"We've already established a great relationship with some of the people in this community," says Store General Manager Tony Aguirre. "We are really looking forward to welcoming the pets in Downer's Grove into our new store."

Pets and their people will also get the opportunity to learn about PETCO services such as grooming, pet photography and obedience training, while they munch on free popcorn and cotton candy. PETCO also offers low-cost vaccination clinics in partnership with community veterinarians. 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 Downer's Grove store, or for a complete listing of Grand Opening events, 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 640 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 $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.

SOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.