2,000 Rescued Animals Up for Adoption at Dallas-Area PETCO Stores

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all small animal lovers! PETCO and the PETCO Foundation have stepped up to help rescue some very special animals in need and find them safe, loving homes as soon as possible. Beginning Feb. 9, 22 PETCO stores throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area will have available, through Wild Rescue Inc. of Texas, more than 2,000 recently rescued animals for adoption.

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The animals come from the December seizure of more than 26,000 animals from U.S. Global Exotics, an Arlington-based international pet wholesaler, where the animals were allegedly found in inhumane conditions. In a custody hearing following the seizure, the City of Arlington was granted custody of the animals, which have since been transferred to the SPCA of Texas for temporary care; 2,000 of the animals subsequently were transferred to Wild Rescue for placement. Wild Rescue then approached PETCO and the PETCO Foundation for assistance.

"We were appalled by the tragedy at U.S. Global Exotics and we're thrilled to help these animals in any way we can," said Susan Rosenberg, National Adoptions and Disaster Relief Manager for the PETCO Foundation. "But we need the help of our local communities, too. We encourage anyone who's been considering adding a new companion animal to their family to join our efforts to help by adopting one of these special animals and giving them the happy, healthy homes they deserve."

The rodents, reptiles and amphibians up for adoption include: green anoles, geckos (common, golden, leopard and Tokay), firebelly toads, garter snakes, green iguanas, hermit crabs, long-tailed grass lizards, fancy mice, hamsters (Chinese, robo, Russian and white winter) and white tree frogs.

The animals will be available at 22 Dallas-area PETCO stores, for adoption only, through Wild Rescue , a registered animal welfare partner of the PETCO Foundation, and the SPCA of Texas. An adoption application and fee, which goes fully to the PETCO Foundation, is required to adopt these animals. For a complete list of the 22 stores, please visit http://about.petco.com/2010/02/dallas-adoptions.

"We removed these animals from severely overcrowded conditions and have provided care, a proper diet and proper housing in order to maintain and improve their health so they would be ready to find new, loving homes and the care and respect they deserve," said Ann Barnes, Senior Vice President of Operations for the SPCA of Texas. "We're grateful to Wild Rescue for taking on the task of finding homes for this large group of animals and to PETCO and the PETCO Foundation for providing Wild Rescue the means and venue to do so."

PETCO's priority is always the health and well-being of animals and the company encourages customers to always think adoption first when considering a new pet. Through the PETCO Foundation and working with animal-welfare agencies across the country, the company has helped raise more than $60 million on behalf of animals in need and helps place more than 200,000 homeless animals in loving homes each year.

To learn more about the PETCO Foundation and how you too can make a difference, visit www.petcofoundation.org. To learn more about PETCO or to find a location near you, visit www.petco.com. For 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.petcoscoop.com.

About PETCO

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 1,000 stores in 50 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 $60 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 about 6,200 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

SOURCE PETCO