S. is the Alabama-based , U.
The non-profit HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in
companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection,
animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture.com.

equestrian nature

mammals amphibians

, the
U. distributor of DATAMARS SA, a microchip manufacturer, today announced the
results of a national survey underscoring the lack of consumer awareness
concerning the use of microchip identification in pets.

* The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation which surveyed
a random sample of 1045 people.5 million members and constituents .

pet branch

HSUS
opposes keeping all non-domesticated animals as pets.

arthropods recordings

RFID is a wireless data collection technology that uses electronic tags for
storing data that is used for identification purposes.

About DATAMARS SA
Founded in 1988, DATAMARS SA is headquartered in Bedano, Switzerland (near
Lugano). DATAMARS is a global market-leader in the development of RFID
technology.

CONTACT: Melissa Vigue Theresa Wray
Peppercom Peppercom
212. The organization is based in Washington and has field
representatives across the country. PETCO stores also offer for sale small mammal,
reptiles and birds and as well as these species plus dogs and cats for
adoption in cooperation with animal shelters and rescue groups.com is the nation's largest and oldest online adoption
community.

theme arthropods

About HSUS
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal
protection organization with more than 8.

recordings equestrian

com), whose members
include the Humane Society of the United States and the American Veterinary
Medical Association, among others.

About The Crystal Import Corp. The company has expanded rapidly following a buy-out in 1991 and
now has over 120 employees located in Switzerland, Asia and the United States.

birds cats

, The Crystal Import Corp.S. PETCO will encourage
customers to seek adoptable animals in the community as a first option,
providing informational resource centers and in-store adoption opportunities
to a larger variety of rescue groups."
At this week's HSUS Animal Care Expo, PETCO, the PETCO Foundation, and
Petfinder. PETCO's vision is to best promote, through its
people, the highest level of well being for companion animals, and to support
the human-animal bond.

dealers identification

readallchips.com's searchable database, will also reach out to
placement groups and shelters that offer small mammals, reptiles and birds for
adoption, in an effort to help find families for all homeless animals as well
as resources for customers interested in these species . Think Adoption First is the right thing to do, and we are
absolutely committed to making this work , to the benefit of adoptable animals
and our community animal welfare partners. It is on the web at hsus.

stores merchandise

"If the United
States does not adopt a global scanner, pet owners run the risk of losing the
beloved pet that the microchip is supposed to protect.
HSUS President and Chief Executive Officer Wayne Pacelle said, "We're
extremely pleased to showcase PETCO's 'Think Adoption First' program at our
annual Animal Care Expo conference."
PETCO's Chief Executive Officer James Myers said , "We have a long history
of supporting animal welfare and adoptions and we're broadening that
philosophy with our 'Think Adoption First' program. Working with more than 8,500 active animal welfare organizations
across the country, Petfinder.

birds loss

"
With an estimated two million cats and dogs in the U.
Losing a pet is a significant problem. As part of the 'Think Adoption First' effort, PETCO, with
the help of Petfinder.com are encouraging animal welfare groups to join in the adoption
effort . Since its
inception in 1999, the PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has
raised more than $22 million in support of more than 2,600 non-profit
grassroots animal welfare organizations around the nation.

cats breeders

More than half (59 percent) of those surveyed about the various microchip
systems currently on the market said that they did not know that many of the
chips are encrypted and can only be read by proprietary technology.
Additionally, the survey revealed that 88 percent of the population is
unaware that microchips implanted in dogs or cats in the United States may not
be readable overseas or in Canada, as the U.
The Crystal Import Corp. distributor for
DATAMARS SA, a global market-leader in developing RFID.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030603/PETCOLOGO)
Through the 'Think Adoption First' program, PETCO, the PETCO Foundation
and Petfinder.org.

shopping equestrian

S.
A global scanner that can read all chips is supported by the Coalition for
Reuniting Pets and Families (http: //www. in announcing the retailer's 'Think Adoption
First' program at the 14th annual 'Animal Care Expo' in Atlanta.
PETCO store associates have received information on how to promote the
'Think Adoption First' philosophy so they can properly suggest adoption first
when customers express interest in adding a companion animal to their home.

About PETCO (Nasdaq: PETC)
PETCO , established in 1965, is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet
food, supplies and services .

stores theme

Pets With Microchips May not Be Found if Lost

, a universal
scanner, at the very least, is a necessary step that will provide a viable
solution to this problem," said Parvis Hassan-Zade, CEO of DATAMARS SA. It operates over 730 stores in 47 states and the
District of Columbia and is a leading destination for on-line pet food and
supplies at http://www.petco.

dogs nature

931. The HSUS protects all
animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy,
and fieldwork.com offers a searchable database of adoptable
companion animals.com adoption partners found homes for
more than 1.

dogs recordings

The competing
technologies available in the U.S.6165 415-438-9825
twray@peppercom . PETCO does not sell dogs or cats, and for
nearly 40 years has worked with shelters to find homes for millions of
adoptable animals. We will, simply put,
recommend adoption before purchase of any animal at our more than 730 stores
across the county.

amphibians equestrian

(Photo: http://www. To encourage microchip manufacturers to
come to an agreement, a major pet food company has offered to donate 30 ,000
global scanners to shelters and veterinarians (a substantial $5 million
donation) that can only be utilized pending the cooperation of all microchip
manufacturers in the United States.com , the company's online partner, will encourage customers to
consider adoption as the first option when thinking about adding a new
companion animal to their homes.

consumer pets

S.com

(Logo: http://www.

stores shopping

HSUS PETCO Showcase 'Think Adoption First' at 'Animal Care Expo' Event With Leaders of U.S. Animal Welfare Community

The goal of the
conference is to provide educational workshops and training on related animal
welfare topics and to exhibit the latest products and services for the animal
welfare industry.

mammals stores

Nearly 90% of Those Surveyed Are Unaware of Universal Scanner Issue

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050420/NYW149 )
Approximately the size of a grain of rice, pet microchips are devices
implanted in pets to provide a permanent form of identification through the
use of radio frequency identification (RFID) -- a one of a kind ID number. A microchip
can ensure that a dog or cat is returned to its rightful owner, but only if it
is readable by the scanner.

identification shopping

are providing a false sense of security for
pet owners," said John Snyder, senior director of companion animals and equine
protection with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association pet
travel rose 33 percent to 20 million -- 80 percent of them dogs - in 2004.
And, during the spring and summer season, the Travel Industry Association
estimates that more than 32 million Americans will be traveling with a family
pet , increasing the risk of a pet getting lost in unfamiliar surroundings.
"Due to the competing technologies being sold in the U.com
Petfinder. Last year, Petfinder.

branch mammals

newscom. This means that while a pet owner may have had
his/her pet implanted with a microchip, the chip may not be readable by animal
shelters or other recovery organizations that only have one scanner.
Over 1,300 grassroots animal welfare representatives from the animal care,
control, sheltering and rescue communities from all 50 states and 26 foreign
countries are in Atlanta this week attending the annual educational and
product exposition conference sponsored by the HSUS.

About Petfinder.

pets loss

"We are not surprised by the results of this study. currently carrying
microchips, many of these ID systems are still encrypted and can only be read
by proprietary technology. is one of the only countries
worldwide that does not use the ISO -- International Standards Organization --
standard.5 million animals, making it the nation's largest animal adoption
organization.

equestrian cats

Eighty-nine percent
(89 %) of the respondents did not know that the United States is one of the
only countries worldwide that does not have a universal (or global) scanner
that can read all microchips. ATLANTA, The Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS) today joined the nation's leading pet specialty retailer
PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. PETCO's adoption promotion program should
directly link people with animals in need and address the problems associated
with homeless animals, and we congratulate PETCO on developing this innovative
idea and aggressively implementing it.

cats merchandise

S. More than half (53 percent) of
respondents have had a pet lost or stolen or know someone who has, and 50
percent of that group indicated that their pets were not found.newscom.