Join the Movement 5 Million Strong

SAN DIEGO, April 5, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ellen DeGeneres' HALO® natural pet foods has partnered with PETCO this April to help shelter pets in a variety of ways, from ensuring they're fed a nutritious meal to providing them with a much needed home. During PETCO's National Adoption Weekend, which is held at every PETCO store April 9-10, 2011, pet parents will have an opportunity to meet and greet local shelter animals in need of a home. Pet parents will also be able to help Freekibble.com donate meals from HALO ® to shelter animals - the organization recently celebrated the donation of their five millionth meal to a hungry pet this April. Animal lovers who visit PETCO's National Adoption Weekend can join in by redeeming a special Freekibble coupon for $2 off any size bag of HALO Spot's Stew® dog or cat food. For every coupon redeemed, HALO will donate one meal to Freekibble.com. In addition, one lucky pet parent will win the opportunity to donate 10,000 HALO meals to the shelter of their choice. The coupon is available at www.halopets.com/paw Halo owner, Ellen DeGeneres states, "At Halo we want to promote healthy living for pets and eating good food is a big part of that. So, we agreed to donate one million meals of Halo to shelter pets. I mean, imagine, an animal in a shelter, in a cage, lonely - a good meal is kinda all they have to look forward to, until you adopt them!" PETCO's partnership with HALO comes on the heels of the launch of PETCO Certified Nutrition, which believes every pet deserves a healthy and nutritious meal, including shelter animals. In addition to helping feed hungry dogs and cats, new pet parents can receive nutrition and care tips from PETCO representatives. Those who choose to adopt a cat during National Adoption Weekend will receive a HALO $5 coupon and one free 16 lb. jug of PETCO Cat Litter. Plus, all pet parents who adopt enjoy additional savings from PETCO's Think Adoption First Care and Savings program. Ask a store associate for details or visit  www.petco.com/adoptions. About PETCO PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 1,000 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at   www.petco.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised nearly $70 million since its inception 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 200,000 adoptable animals every year.   ABOUT HALO, PURELY FOR PETS® For over 25 years, Halo, Purely for Pets® has created holistic pet products of uncompromising quality.  Halo believes nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet's life.  Halo's natural pet food, treats, supplements and grooming products - including the award-winning Halo Spot's Stew, Dream Coat and Liv-a-Littles treats - are available at PETCO, Whole Foods Market, thousands of independent pet specialty and natural food stores, and online at  www.halopets.com.   Ellen DeGeneres – a long time Halo customer – became a part-owner of Halo in 2008, saying, "because I think Halo is incredible, I decided to become part owner in hopes that all animals have the chance to be the healthiest they can be. And I'm anxious to spread the word so that everybody knows about Halo."   Halo feels a great sense of responsibility to serve its Customers (Including pet parents, their pets and all other dogs and cats that may or may not have a loving home at this point in time) in a manner that extends well  beyond the commercial. HALO is proud to have donated more than 1 million meals of Halo Spot's Stew in 2010, celebrating an unprecedented partnership with the United States Postal Service to promote the 2010 "Adopt A Shelter Pet" social awareness stamp  http://www.halopets.com/news/pdfs/halo-1million-donations.pdf).  In 2011, HALO  will donate even more, in partnership with Freekibble.com. http://www.halopets.com/news/freekibble-sponsor.html.   Halo has been widely honored for product quality and philanthropy. Recent awards include the first and only National Canine Cancer Foundation Seal of Excellence, American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Award (first place), Tails Magazine Readers Choice Award (best dog food, cat food, dog treat, cat treat), Chefs in America Best Dog Treat, Vitamin Retailer Magazine Best Pet Supplement, and much more www.halopets.com/awards). About Freekibble With the help of Freekibble's 400,000 loyal monthly followers, they have donated over 5 million nutritious meals to over 100 shelters, rescues and food-banks across the country. At the end of each month, Mimi personally delivers all of the donated food to the Humane Society of Central Oregon and will be working with Halo, Purely For Pets® to distribute the pet food to all the other animal shelters they are assisting. Freekibble is played in 137 countries. Freekibble.com was created by 14-year-old Mimi Ausland, when she was 11 years old, to help feed the homeless dogs and cats at her local animal shelter. "There are 10's of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal… and they deserve it!". Mimi was named the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States Kid of the Year because of the impact Freekibble has had on feeding animals in need, and for the awareness she has created for shelter pets.  Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com are two of the five most-visited animal rescue sites in the world.CONTACT: