Help A Homeless Pet This Holiday at Petco's™ National Adoption Weekend

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, millions of loving animals wind up homeless and in animal shelters across the country. The holidays are a time of giving, so Petco hopes to encourage families to give a home to a pet in need during their National Adoption Weekend taking place December 1-2, 2012 - the same weekend as "National Mutt Day". With 5 to 7 million animals entering shelters annually, finding a loving home is the best gift they can receive.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121127/LA18899)

Although Petco's National Adoption Weekend falls during "National Mutt Day", which is December 2, 2012, Petco is working to find homes for all shelter animals, purebred or mixed breed. There are pets of all types in need of homes this holiday, but here are some reasons to celebrate mixed breeds during Petco's National Adoption Weekend:

• Become known as a lifesaver! Many people prefer to adopt purebred dogs, leaving mostly "mutts" or mixed breeds in animal shelters. As a result, the biggest percentages of dogs euthanized in shelters are of mixed breed.
• National Mutt Day was created in 2005 in order to educate the public about this issue and to promote the adoption of mixed breed dogs.
• Mixed breeds are just as well behaved and healthy as purebred dogs.
• Mixed breeds are talented and often serve as guide dogs, police dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

Natural Balance® will be sponsoring Petco's National Adoption Weekend and plans to give all dog adopting pet parents a free 2.75 oz. roll of dog food and $3 off a 12.5 lb. bag of dry or cased dog food. Those who adopt a cat will receive a free can or pouch of cat food and $3 off any 10 lb. dry or cased cat food.

Adoption events will take place at every Petco and Unleashed by Petco store nationwide the weekend of December 1-2^nd, 2012. Pet adoption times may vary, so it's recommended to contact the nearest location for adoption hours. For more information, visit petco.com/adoptions.

About Petco
Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that provides the products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,150 stores nationwide, including more than 50 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop, and www.petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $100 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support approximately 8,000 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 250,000 animals through in-store adoption events every year.

Contact:
Allie Maltese
619-501-2756
[email protected]

SOURCE Petco