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Once again, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. customers, vendors and associates have given generously to the PETCO Foundation during their recent Greyhound Planet Weekend, to help these beautiful creatures find homes now that their time on the track is over. And not only did they open their hearts and their wallets for this important cause, but they also exceeded last year's effort by more than 32%.

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"This demonstration of compassion by our customers, vendors and associates continues to show that they care about all animals, not just their own pets," PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said. "The grass-roots greyhound rescue groups that are out there saving lives every day will truly benefit from these much-needed funds, and a countless number of these beautiful creatures will lead better lives as a result."

September 19 through September 21, PETCO customers were invited to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with all proceeds going to the PETCO Foundation. The Foundation will distribute these monies to greyhound rescue groups in PETCO store communities across the country. This effort started last year in conjunction with the first Greyhound Planet Day, raising more than $54,000 for greyhound-focused organizations. This year's fundraiser brought in $71,291 for greyhound education, awareness and adoption programs.

"The success of this fundraisers speaks directly to the fact that people who shop and work at PETCO truly care about the animals in their communities," Jolly added. "Instead of facing an uncertain future, many more of these loyal and majestic dogs will now find loving families to call their own."

Greyhound adoptions account for almost 20% of all dog adoptions at PETCO stores, with more groups signing up to hold adoption events at PETCO stores each year. This fundraiser will help those many groups with the necessary resources they need to rescue even more of these animals from an early grave.

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.