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As part of an ongoing effort to upgrade existing stores to their cutting edge Millennium design, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. announces the grand openings of the newly remodeled Paramus and Ramsey, New Jersey stores, Friday, October 3 through Sunday, October 5. These are two of 50 stores that will be converted to this brighter, more open floor model this year.

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

Pets and their people are encouraged to visit either location to join in the festivities and see the "new" stores. Each store will host a variety of events to celebrate their grand re-openings, from pet contests and games to PETCO services such as free pet photography and information about obedience training and low-cost veterinary services. And the kids won't be left out of this celebration of the human-animal bond, as each location will feature clowns, coloring contests and free popcorn.

Most importantly, as a demonstration of PETCO's commitment to pet adoptions, a variety of local animal welfare groups will be on hand to find loving homes for companion animals. Groups who work with these two stores include START, Purrs and Pups, Four Paws, Claws and Paws to Love. As part of the effort to encourage adoptions, PETCO stores offer Adoption Gift Booklets to new pet parents of dogs, cats and small animals. 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.

"Our customers are really excited about this new store," says Ramsey Store General Manager Jennifer Rohan. "We have received a lot of great feedback from our regulars."

Barbara Blauvelt, General Manager of the Paramus PETCO, agreed.

"Now that the remodeling is finished, and they get to see the whole store with this new format, they are saying how happy they are with the changes," Blauvelt said. "This will help us provide even better service to them and their pets."

This prototype includes a more open, brighter store, where customers are greeted by the animals, and includes the increasingly popular pet bar. The design is based largely on customer input for an optimum shopping experience.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

To find either New Jersey store, or for a complete list of grand opening events at each 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 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.