At PETCO, our business - and our lives - revolve around pets. Around their health and well-being, and around helping you - our customers and fellow pet parents - enjoy long and happy relationships with your animal companions. After all, our mission and our passion are to support and promote the highest quality of life for pets of all sizes, shapes and colors.

Today, I am writing as a pet parent myself, as well as PETCO's CEO, to share some information with you about developments this week at one of our distribution centers, located in Joliet, Ill.

Earlier this spring, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency charged with overseeing facilities that store human and pet food, inspected our Joliet distribution center. In its reports, the FDA noted pests and instances where mice had reportedly opened packages of pet food.

Since the May inspection, we have acted aggressively to address every concern raised by the FDA. Today, we are confident that the Joliet facility is very clean and that highly effective pest control measures are in place.

However, as a result of the observations raised during the FDA's past inspections, authorities issued an action on Thursday to place a hold on the receipt or distribution of food products from our Joliet facility.

It is important for you to know that, according to the FDA, there is no indication that any pet food that has passed through our Joliet facility is unsafe. Neither the FDA nor our company has received any reports of pet illness associated with eating food distributed by or sold at PETCO stores.

I am actively involved in discussions and decisions as we address this matter. As an organization and as pet parents, all of us at PETCO - starting with me - are committed to complying fully with all FDA requirements, and we are working with officials to understand and address any continuing concerns.

For 43 years, our most important priority has been and continues to be to make it easier for pet parents to love and care for their animal companions. It's what we do and it's why we're here.

We appreciate and take seriously the trust you place in us to help care for your animal family members. You can count on us to work hard to earn that trust every day.

Sincerely,

Jim Myers
PETCO CEO