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As part of an ongoing effort to fight pet overpopulation, the PETCO Foundation presented a check for $66,639 to SPAY/USA for a variety of programs, raised as part of the Foundation's recent "Round Up" campaign which brought in more than $660,000 in PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. stores and online at www.petco.com.

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

SPAY/USA is the largest spay/neuter advocacy and referral program in the world, starting with one veterinarian in Connecticut in 1990 and blossoming to more than 8,000 nationwide today, helping to build local and regional spay/neuter programs in areas where they are most needed. In addition, SPAY/USA has encouraged new and creative ways to make spay/neuter more accessible to people who do not have transportation or funds, including mobile clinics, reference materials, and newsletters highlighting creative solutions to reducing overpopulation.

"This is a great organization that has done a lot to promote the cause of spay/neuter," PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said. "We know these funds will have a significant impact on helping to solve the problem of pet overpopulation."

"PETCO's incredibly generous donation will indeed have a significant impact on our program," said SPAY/USA Director and Founder Esther Mechler. " Each day we have callers who want to do the right thing (spay/neuter their pets or strays) but cannot always afford the full price. For those who cannot afford even the reduced prices that clinics offer -- for example if they have a number of cats or dogs - we can provide a part of the needed amount."

"We will also be upgrading our web site to include far more information about statistics, current effective spay programs, legislation, funding and other topics that people call us about daily," Mechler added. " Now, instead of having to look up the information each day we will be able to refer them to the web site where they can see and download what they need. We hope to gather the information and put it on the site by early in the new year, 2004 if all goes well. All this would not have been possible had it not been for PETCO's generous grant to our program."

During Round-Up/Spay Today 2003, which ran from July 27 through August 17, PETCO customers were encouraged to "round-up" their purchases to the next highest dollar. The PETCO Foundation had hoped to raise $500,000 for spay/neuter efforts across the country, but it became clear early that this goal would be exceeded as customers gave generously to the cause. The money raised will go to support local spay/neuter organizations, programs and efforts by animal welfare groups to help solve the problem of pet overpopulation. Each of PETCO's 650 stores selected a charitable partner for this fundraiser, who will be the recipient of the individual store's fundraising efforts.

"We could not do this were it not for the compassion and caring expressed by our generous customers, vendors and associates through their donations," Jolly said. "They have shown time and time again that they care not only about their own pets, but about animals throughout the community as well."

PETCO is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food, supplies and services, with a commitment to quality animal care and education, that operates more than 650 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 animal charity, 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.

SPAY/USA is a program of The Pet Savers Foundation, located at 2261 Broadbridge Avenue in Stratford, CT.

SOURCE: PETCO