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The PETCO Foundation's love for companion animals will be in full bloom from March 13 to April 17, as PETCO stores nationwide host the annual "Spring A Pet" fundraiser to benefit community animal welfare and adoption groups. The national campaign hopes to raise $1.8 million for animal welfare organizations in PETCO store communities across the country.

PETCO customers, vendors, and associates will have the opportunity to donate $1, $5, $10, or $20 during the fundraiser, and each donor will receive a personalized cutout bunny to display in their neighborhood store or take home as a reminder of their generosity. Donors of $20 or more will also receive a Red Ruff and Blue Mews "Make a Difference" snow globe.

Each store will select a charitable partner to receive funding raised by their individual location, and a percentage of this amount will go into a regional fund to assist animal welfare needs throughout the year. Donations can also be made online at www.PETCO.com.

Last year's event raised more than $1.5 million to assist 1,900 grassroots animal welfare organizations across the country. Past funding has assisted community adoption groups, spay/neuter efforts, pet therapy programs, and various other pet-related causes.

"Thanks to the generosity of PETCO customers, vendors, and associates, our fundraisers have been experiencing record success," says Paul Jolly, Director of the PETCO Foundation. "Spring A Pet not only provides local groups much-needed funding to advance their animal welfare efforts, it clearly illustrates the strong commitment to the human-animal bond within the PETCO family."

To find your nearest PETCO store, or to learn more about the PETCO Foundation, visit 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 720 neighborhood stores in 47 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 $21 million since inception in 1999. More than 2,500 non-profit grassroots animal welfare organizations from around the nation have received support from the Foundation. Through the PETCO Foundation, PETCO endeavors to be a community leader in promoting the welfare of companion animals, as well as the importance of the human-animal bond.

SOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.