PETCO™ to Host “National Adoption Reunion” Event in Central Park in Celebration of Helping Three Million Shelter Animals Find Hom

Platinum Selling RCA Recording Artist Gavin DeGraw to Perform Songs from his Brand New Album SWEETER

San Diego, CA (September 26, 2011) – On October 4, 2011, Petco™ will host their inaugural “National Adoption Reunion” event in Central Park to celebrate the three million plus pets the company has helped place in forever homes.

At the event, Petco hopes to put the spotlight on the millions of shelter animals still in need of homes by uniting adopted pets and pet parents to set a Guinness World Record® for “Largest Gathering of Adopted Shelter Animals”.  Co-hosted by Sony Electronics, it will kick off the nationwide “National Adoption Reunion” celebrations taking place the weekend of October 8-9, 2011 at all Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores.

Entertainment will be provided by the platinum-selling RCA recording artist, Gavin DeGraw, who will perform a live acoustic set of material from his brand new album SWEETER just released on September 20th.  Additionally, a large “Photo and Video Experience” area from Sony will showcase several new digital imaging products including Cyber-shot® and Bloggie® digital cameras, where attendees can learn how to easily capture and share great pictures and video of their pets.    

Petco will also present the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals with a donation of a new mobile adoption van worth an estimated $128,000 to assist with local adoption efforts.  In the spirit of Petco’s commitment to “Think Adoption First,” several local adoption partners that participate in the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals will be in attendance to place homeless pets in loving forever homes.

The event will take place from 4 – 6:30 p.m. in the Naumburg Bandshell area of Central Park. Visit www.petco.com/reunion for more information.

Guinness World Record Participation Guidelines:
A minimum of 250 animals attending the reunion must have been adopted from an animal shelter or adoption organization and not purchased. In order to count towards the record total, all owners must supply paperwork to the event organizers proving their animal was adopted from a shelter or adoption organization. Check in to the record-setting attempt begins at 4 p.m. and counting begins at 5 p.m. To be counted in the record attempt, all animals must be in the same place at the same time in a cordoned off area and must remain altogether for a minimum of 10 minutes. Each animal must be accompanied by at least one pet parent. An official Guinness World Records® representative will be in attendance to verify the record and share the result with attendees by the end of the event.

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 it 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 sho, 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 conjuction 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.

 
About Gavin DeGraw:
Gavin DeGraw released his brand new album SWEETER this week on September 20th, 2011(RCA).   Entertainment Weekly describes the album’s first single “Not Over You”, which debuted most added at the Hot AC format, as “a soulful majestic ballad” and People Magazine declares the “hot single” as his “welcome return” to the airwaves. DeGraw first broke through with the 2003 release of his debut album, Chariot, which sold more than 1 million copies, earned platinum certification and yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through” and the title-track, “Chariot.” DeGraw’s self-titled second album debuted at No. 1 on the digital sales chart and at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart in 2008, earning DeGraw his first Top 10 album. It spawned the hit singles “In Love With A Girl,” and the gold-certified “We Belong Together.” In 2009, DeGraw released Free as a gift to his die-hard fans clamoring for recorded versions of his live favorites. DeGraw recently toured with Maroon 5 and TRAIN that wrapped at the end of August and has just announced a co-headlining tour with David Cook kicking off early October. He has performed and is scheduled to perform on numerous TV shows in support of SWEETER including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Rachael Ray and more.

About Sony Electronics™
Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and products for both the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, design, engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Within Digital Imaging, the company is noted for a wide range of products, including Alpha DSLR and Cyber-shot® digital cameras as well as Handycam® and Bloggie® video cameras.

The latest news and information is available at the company’s web site at www.sony.com/news.



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