Petco Celebrates Halloween with a New Lineup of Costumes and Events

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco today announced a new collection of adorable Halloween pet costumes now available at Petco stores nationwide and online at Petco.com/Halloween to help pet parents get ready for the trick or treat festivities. New costumes include pumpkin hats, devil capes, superhero costumes and more.

According to a recent Petco survey*, the trend for pets to participate in Halloween festivities has continued to climb, with 50 percent of respondents noting that their pet will participate in Halloween this year, which is up 11 percent from past years. Of these pet parents, 84 percent noted that their dog will be the pet joining in on the trick-or-treat fun.

For dogs looking to be the center of attention, pet families can consider Petco's Halloween Taco Dog Costume, and for those pet parents looking for film inspiration, Petco's STAR WARS Halloween Ewok Dog Costume will surely have any dog's tail wagging. For pet parents whose cats will join in on the fun, the Petco Halloween Purrfect Pumpkin Cat Costume and Petco Halloween Octopus Cat Costume are entertaining ways to include your feline friend in Halloween activities.

In addition to dressing pets up, 68 percent of respondents who confirmed their pets will participate in Halloween indicated they plan to purchase a special Halloween treat or toy for their four-legged friend. For these pet parents, consider Petco's Halloween Candy Corns on a Rope Dog Toy, which covers your dog's chewing needs and encourages exercise. For an irresistible treat, try the delicious blend of tasty pumpkin, cinnamon and cloves found in Petco's Treat Bar Bulk Pumpkin & Spice Dog Treats.

In keeping with the festive spirit, Petco stores nationwide will showcase a series of family friendly in-store events throughout October:

• Paw Impressions: Create a memory that will last a lifetime at Petco's Paw Impressions event. Pet parents can bring their dog in to create an imprint of their paw as a fun family keepsake. Date: Saturday, October 10, from 1 – 3 p.m. nationwide local time
• Reptile Rally: Head to your nearest Petco for scales, tails and creepy-crawly Halloween fun at Reptile Rally – a celebration of reptiles, arachnids and amphibians. A "Reptile Meet and Greet" will take place for families to get to know these fascinating companions and learn useful care tips from knowledgeable Petco partners. Enjoy cool giveaways and a "Most BOOtiful Reptile Costume Contest." Families can share all the fun on their social channels using #ReptileRally. Date: Saturday, October 17, from 1 – 3 p.m. nationwide local time
• Petco's Halloween Pet Costume Contest: Bring your pet in to strut their stuff at Petco's Halloween pet costume contest. Prizes and treats will be awarded, with a grand prize including a free mini make-rover. Date: Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. nationwide local time. Fans of Unleashed by Petco can also participate in this event at all Unleashed locations – same day and time.

In addition to the in-store fun, pet parents who plan to dress up their pets can participate in the Petco "Make a Scene" Photo Contest on Instagram. Beginning October 1, pet parents are encouraged to take a photo of their costumed pet in a scene that matches the pet's costume and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #MakeASceneContest for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize.

For more, reach out on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. For additional information on Petco's Halloween costumes, visit the online Halloween "Bootique" at Petco.com/Halloween.

*Source: Petco Pet Passionaries Research Panel (July 2015)

About Petco and the Petco Foundation
Celebrating 50 years of service to pet parents, Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,400 Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including more than 120 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop; 10 Pooch Hotel destinations for pet daycare, boarding and spa services; prescription services and pet supplies from the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier, Drs. Foster & Smith; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $125 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 thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.

Contacts:
Lisa Stark, [email protected]
Parinaz Farzin, [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150914/266442

SOURCE Petco