news releases

This weekend, PETCO stores across the country will host a pet adoption fair to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the company's "Think Adoption First" program. This Saturday and Sunday, join PETCO and its community adoption partners to help raise awareness on animal welfare and find loving families for homeless pets.

Launched in August 2004, Think Adoption First encourages PETCO customers to consider adoption before the purchase of any companion animal. PETCO does not sell dogs or cats, and for over 40 years has worked with shelters to find homes for millions of adoptable animals, but the stores do offer small animals, reptiles and birds. In conjunction with online partner Petfinder.com, Think Adoption First urges customers to seek adoptable animals in the community as a first option, providing informational kiosks and in-store adoption opportunities to a larger variety of rescue organizations.

"Think Adoption First not only increases the visibility of adoptable dogs and cats in the area, it raises awareness that local rabbits, birds, and small animals are also in need of good homes," says Paul Jolly, Vice President and Director of the PETCO Foundation. "With this program, PETCO is giving animals of all kinds a second chance at life by helping them find their forever families."

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 750 neighborhood stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $24 million since inception in 1999. More than 2,700 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