Fundraiser Hopes to Raise Millions for Pets in Need

San Diego, CA (Vocus) December 4, 2007 -- The PETCO Foundation?s Annual Tree of Hope fundraiser is now underway in hopes of raising more than $2 million for animals in need nationwide.

Now through Dec. 24, PETCO customers can help make a difference for hundreds of pets by purchasing card ornaments for a $1, $5, $10 or $20 donation. Customers donating $20 or more will receive a PETCO Foundation ceramic ornament. Last year?s fundraiser generated more than $2.7 million.

Money raised locally stays in the community and region. Each PETCO store selects an animal welfare group, and then collects donations on that organization's behalf. Customers can also donate online at PETCO.com.

Additionally, PETCO?s pet insurance partner, PetCare Pet Insurance Programs ?- offered and owned by Pethealth Inc., will donate $5 for each PetCare pet insurance policy activated during the fundraiser.

?Millions of homeless pets in our nation?s shelters lose their chance to love because they have been given up for one reason or another. Tree of Hope provides much needed funding to local rescue organizations that provide homeless animals with a second chance to live and love,? says PETCO Foundation Vice President and Director Paul Jolly.

Why Donate:

?    Approximately 8 million pets will flood animal shelters next year.

?    Between 4?6 million pets are euthanized each year.

?    On average, it costs a shelter $75 per spay/neuter surgery, which prevents unwanted litters.

?    Through generous donations animal welfare organizations are able to invest in making surrendered animals more adoptable.

PETCO encourages customers to consider adoption before the purchase of any companion animal -- even if it?s one of the birds, reptiles, or small animals currently offered in PETCO stores. PETCO also encourages anyone looking to give a pet as a gift this holiday season to consider a gift card so that the recipient may choose their next companion animal themselves.

For more information on Tree of Hope and the PETCO Foundation or to locate a store near you, visit www.PETCO.com. For more information on PetCare Pet Insurance, visit www.petcarepals.com

To get the latest news on anything and everything PETCO -? from updates about the company to incredible acts of animal kindness, visit the company?s blog at www.petconews.com.

PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 870 stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at www.petco.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $38 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the foundation, we work with and support more than 4,800 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

Contacts:     

Rachel McLennan

PETCO

(858) 453-7845 EXT. 2558

Paul Jolly

Director and Vice President

PETCO Foundation

(626)287-0952

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