news releases

                   Calendar Listing, Photo Opportunity

  Date:   Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006

  Time:   2:00 p.m. (Warm-up rounds begin at 1:30 p.m.)

  Where:  Over 800 neighborhood PETCO locations
          To find a participating store near you visit,
          www.petco.com/hamster

  Why:    To celebrate hamster power and the rise in small animal pet
          ownership

  Let's Get Ready to Roll!

Move over NASCAR and race on over to one of PETCO's more than 800 stores for the retailer's first nationwide Hamster Ball Derby. Using hamster balls as their vehicles, hamsters will race down an eight-foot track in heats of four (hopefully, but not necessarily, toward the finish line). Heat winners will advance to subsequent rounds until a champion is determined in the final race.

First-place winners will receive a Super Pet Dazzle Runabout Ball, a Hamtrac Circle Track, First Place Ribbon and, of course, bragging rights. Hamtrac Circle Tracks will also be awarded to second-, third- and fourth-place winners! All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Participants will need to have their own hamsters and hamster balls to participate. Registration for the race is FREE. Spectators are encouraged to join in and cheer on their favorite competitors.

PETCO, with more than 800 neighborhood stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia, is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food, supplies and services with a commitment to quality animal care and education.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 6

SOURCE: PETCO