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PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. encourages people to give the gift of life this holiday season, by choosing to adopt an orphaned animal from a shelter as part of the "Home 4 the Holidays" campaign, which runs from November 10 through January 4. But before you give that pet to someone as a gift, you may want to consider all the implications of that act to insure the pet does not find itself back in the hands of an animal welfare organization.

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

Although the two-month adoption drive has a goal of 200,000 animals leaving shelters, organizers want to make sure that these pets find their "forever homes" through this program, with the understanding that these wonderful creatures require a life-long commitment. With that in mind, PETCO offers a few questions to ask before giving a pet as a gift:

  *  Are there financial resources to take proper care of the companion
     animal, such as a budget for vet care and proper nutrition? Daily care
     doesn't cost a whole lot, but unforeseen health emergencies can cost
     several hundred dollars.
  *  Have they read about, and know the basics of, the pet being considered?
     Libraries and PETCO carry related books and pamphlets. A veterinarian
     can also answer many questions. Know all about the companion animal's
     needs before making a decision.
  *  Have they considered the time it may take to exercise the pet to keep
     it healthy? Dogs need space to move and run or should be walked
     regularly. Cats can be exercised with a string or, often, having a
     feline playmate can provide much-needed exercise.
  *  Who will be responsible for the companion animal's primary care (daily
     feeding, fresh water, exercise, etc.)?

PETCO recommends that if you want to give a companion animal as a gift, take the potential pet owner to a local shelter to hand-select his or her pet. Then, take your adoption papers to any PETCO store, and receive an "Adoption Gift Booklet," with coupons worth up to $180 to help the new pet parent get off to the right start. To find a participating shelter in your area, call 1- 800-422-7793. To find a PETCO near you, log on to www.petco.com.

Home 4 the Holidays, a brainchild of San Diego's Helen Woodward Animal Center, helped place 180,000 homeless animals with loving families last year. This year, with the event again sponsored by PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc., The Iams Company and the PETCO Foundation, and with the participation of Petfinder.com, organizers feel the magic number of 200,000 can be reached.

The adoption drive began in 1999 when Helen Woodward Animal Center organized 14 area shelters in a concerted adoption drive during the holiday season. The result was 2,563 pet adoptions. The next year 130 shelters in five states participated in Home 4 the Holidays 2000 resulting in 20,000 adoptions. Home 4 the Holidays 2001 became the largest pet adoption event in history.

This year, more than 1,300 shelters across the country -- along with online adoption organization Petfinder.com -- will be participating in Home 4 The Holidays.

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 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 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