Reach out during Petco's National Adoption Weekend

In an effort to help boost pet adoptions and increase the number of animal lives saved this holiday season, PETCO will kick-off the PETCO Foundation’s Annual Tree of Hope fundraiser with National Adoption Weekend Nov. 8 and 9 and adoption events taking place in nearly 950 PETCO stores nationwide.

“There are millions of wonderful pets in shelters across the nation – in all of our communities – waiting to be found and adopted into loving homes,” said Beth Mars, director of operations and development for the PETCO Foundation. “The holiday season is a great time of year for bringing pets and people together. Combining Tree of Hope with a national adoption event in all of our stores will provide a venue and much-needed funding to local rescue organizations that give homeless animals a second chance to live and love.”

Beginning with the National Adoption weekend and running through Dec. 24, the Tree of Hope fundraiser will allow PETCO customers to 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 special PETCO Foundation reusable “Seed of Hope” bag, and every new pet parent on Nov. 8 and 9 will receive the same bag stuffed with goodies. This year’s fundraising goal is 3 million dollars.

This year the PETCO Foundation is also partnering with IAMS and its annual Home 4 the Holidays adoption drive to ensure a successful fundraiser and help further promote the adoption of homeless animals throughout the holidays. With a goal to adopt out a million animals by the end of the holiday season, IAMS will donate $1 for every bag of IAMS cat or dog food sold at PETCO stores during the campaign to add to the PETCO Foundation’s efforts.

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. The company 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 visit www.petcofoundation.org or to locate a store near you, visit www.petco.com. For more information on the IAMS Home 4 the Holidays campaign, visit www.IAMS.com