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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Update on Our Joliet Distribution Center
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
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Thursday, June 05, 2008
PETCO, Natural Balance Team Up with Guide Dogs of the Desert
June is Natural Balance month at PETCO and as part of the new partnership between Guide Dogs of the Desert (GDD), PETCO and Natural Balance, PETCO stores in Southwest are now asking pet parents to "round up" their purchases to benefit GDD.
The program kicked off Sunday, June 1, and will run through Sunday, June 22. In the first day alone, PETCO stores raised $2,300 for GDD.
The program allows pet-loving customers visiting PETCO stores in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico to round up their purchases to the next dollar (or more) at the cash register, with all donations going directly to Guide Dogs. Customers can also donate to Guide Dogs by rounding up any purchases on PETCO.com.
As part of the new partnership, Natural Balance provides free food for dogs in training at the Guide Dogs of the Desert training facility in Whitewater. Additionally, the pet food company is providing consumer-sized dog food packages for resale at the Guide Dog Depot at 125 Tahquitz Canyon Drive, in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
"Our partnership with PETCO and Natural Balance is a tremendous asset in our efforts to bring visibility to the general public about Guide Dogs of the Desert and the two companies' efforts to raise funds for our organization," said Roccie Hill, Executive Director, Guide Dogs of the Desert.
PETCO will also celebrate the grand opening of its new store in the Smoketree Commons Shopping Center on East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, on from Friday through Sunday, June 13-15.
The Guide Dogs of the Desert school was founded in Palm Springs in 1972 to provide safe mobility, loving companionship and the 'miracle of independence' to the blind through the use of a guide dog. The school is known for its small class size, making for a family environment.
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Wednesday, June 04, 2008
A Fourth-Grader Names New Gecko Species
Gemma Farquhar may be your typical pre-teen, but this fourth-grader from Oaklyn, N.J., may also quite possibly be the only 10-year-old to ever name a new animal species.
Last weekend, Gemma was named the grand prize winner of Project Gecko, a nationwide contest developed by Zilla, a Central Garden & Pet company and manufacturer of reptile products.
The contest challenged fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders to develop a scientifically sound name for a species of gecko recently discovered on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, and Gemma's submission - Bavayia periclitata - won.
"I chose this name because it means endangered and it will make people think about how our geckos are disappearing and are on the endangered list. I hope people will try harder to protect our geckos," said Gemma. "Winning Project Gecko means a lot to me because I named a whole new species of gecko for eternity and giving the gecko this name may mean there’s a better chance to help other species."
Gemma, along with her parents and sister, as well as her teacher and classmates from Oaklyn Elementary School, were honored last Saturday during a special Project Gecko party at the Turnersville PETCO in Sewell, N.J.
The festivities included refreshments and a special Project Gecko cake, a tour of the store, a seminar by a local reptile group, and a Q&A session with Dr. Aaron Bauer - the scientist who discovered the new species.
Gemma and her family donned special Project Gecko T-shirts featuring a gecko with the new name on his name badge and "Gemma Rocks" underneath.
In addition to Gemma, the panel of judges for Project Gecko also selected individual grade student winners, who submitted the best name suggestions in their age group: Madilyn Bragg of West Monroe, La., for the fifth grade, and Daniel Carr of Tampa, Fla., for the sixth grade. Separate Project Gecko parties to honor the two winners, their teachers and classmates were also held last Saturday at PETCO stores in Monroe and Tampa.
Project Gecko received thousands of entries, which were judged based on creativity, explanation of name, adherence to rules, grammar and spelling. Gemma won a $1,000 savings bond and a family trip to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa. She also took home her own gecko, named Peri, or short for periclitata. Gemma's teacher, Linda Hess, received a laptop computer and educational books for her class.
All individual winners were also presented with leopard geckos, Zilla Leopard Gecko starter kits, educational books and tickets to national reptile shows held by NARBC (North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Shows). Subscriptions to Reptiles Magazine were also given to the winners, their classmates and teachers.
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