Volunteers Needed for Nationwide Pet Food Drive

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco and the Petco Foundation are seeking volunteers to help collect pet food for hungry pets during the organizations' second annual National Pet Food Drive from Oct. 30 through Nov. 13. Pet lovers can register online to volunteer at any of Petco's more than 1,100 stores nationwide to promote the two-week drive and help consumers learn more about the year-round Pet Food Bank program. Volunteer opportunities are open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the pet food drive (Oct. 30 and Nov. 5, 6, 12 and 13).

"Our national food bank program makes it easy for people to help keep pets well-nourished and with the families who love them in tough economic times," said Paul Jolly, the Executive Director of the Petco Foundation and a Petco vice president. "We believe no one should have to give up their pet companions due to financial distress, and our associates and customers agree. During this year's two-week national drive, we're asking the communities we serve to give a little extra, both in food donations and by volunteering, to help raise awareness for this important year-round program."  

Just in time for the national drive, Petco has partnered with VolunteerMatch, the nation's largest network of volunteer opportunities, to give pet enthusiasts around the country an easy way to volunteer in support of the pet food drive, as well as find other volunteer opportunities in their area. And, for the second year, Best Friends Animal Society® is showing their support of the national food drive by mobilizing its nationwide network of volunteers to register for the event and help drive awareness of the program.

"You get to help animals and you don't have to spend a lot of time, money or effort educating the public," said Dora Shaieb, a Best Friends Animal Society volunteer who helped out during last year's National Pet Food Drive at her local Petco store in Huntington Beach, Calif. "Animals do not have a voice like people do and we volunteers can be that voice for them."

To register as a food drive volunteer, visit petco.volunteermatch.org and select "Petco Foundation Pet Food Drive." Once registered, volunteers can pick a Petco store location and volunteer time slot of their choice, and will be eligible to sign up for other volunteer opportunities in the future. All food drive volunteers will receive specific instructions and training on how to best promote this important program.

All Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores have designated pet food bins in place for year-round collection. Each store has partnered with a local food bank or animal welfare group to donate pet food and litter directly to economically stressed pet parents in that store's community. Since it was launched in early 2010, the National Pet Food Bank program has provided almost a million pounds of donated pet food and litter to families in need.

Hill's Science Diet will match, pound for pound, every bag of dog and cat food donated at Petco stores during the drive, up to 100,000 pounds. To learn more about the Petco Foundation and how you can make a difference, visit www.petcofoundation.org. To learn more about Petco or to find a location near you, visit www.petco.com.

About Petco and the Petco Foundation

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 1,100 stores nationwide, including more than 30 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop, and www.petco.com.  The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $80 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 7,000 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 250,000 animals through in-store adoption events every year.

SOURCE Petco