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Press Press Releases 2004 Pethealth Inc. and PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. Announce Extension of their Strategic Alliance Agreement. OAKVILLE, ON, April 14, 2004. Pethealth Inc. (“Pethealth” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1: PTZ) today announced that it and PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. (“PETCO”) one of Pethealth’s key strategic alliance partners have agreed to extend their strategic alliance for up to three more years. Further terms were not announced. In April 2001, the two companies announced a 3-year agreement whereby Pethealth became the exclusive provider of pet insurance to PETCO customers in the United States. Over this period, the two companies embarked on an ambitious campaign marketing the PetCare pet insurance brand of programs through a variety of PETCO channels. The insurance program has been regularly featured on a co-branded web site, www.petcarepals.com, with prominent links from www.PETCO.com, and through regular in-store and direct mail promotion. “We are delighted to be able to announce the extension of our agreement with PETCO,” said Mark Warren, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pethealth. “Over the first three years, we have done considerable testing and refining of our marketing program working with the PETCO team, and believe now to have created a template that will allow us to truly maximise the value of the PETCO channel over the next few years, to the benefit of both parties.” In August 2003, U.S-based MarketResearch.com Inc. published a detailed independent report on the U.S. market for pet insurance and identified PETCO as one of the two best positioned retailers in the world through which to offer pet insurance. “Over the last three years, we have witnessed the growth of the PetCare programs to where it is now a significant part of our affiliated business strategy,” said Mike Woodard, Senior Vice-President Business Development of PETCO. “We believe that our customers have been very satisfied with the coverage that they have received under the PetCare programs and the service that Pethealth has provided.” About Pethealth Founded in February 1998, Pethealth Inc. is Canada’s number one provider of pet insurance and is number two in North America, currently offering its PetCare Pet Insurance Programs in 10 provinces, 45 states and Washington, D.C. In addition to the PetCare Pet Insurance Programs, Pethealth offers its pet insurance programs under a variety of names, including QuickCare, ShelterCare and Union Plus Pet Insurance. In the United States, the PetCare Pet Insurance Programs are underwritten by Lincoln General Insurance Company, York, PA, through PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd., PetCare Insurance Agency, Ltd., both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, and Avalon Risk Management Inc. In Canada, the Company’s pet insurance is underwritten by ING Novex, a member of ING Group, and Kingsway General Insurance Company and offered through PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd. In addition, Pethealth, through its wholly owned subsidiaries Pethealth Services Inc. and Pethealth Services (USA) Inc., sells and distributes Allflex pet microchip supplies to the companion animal market in North America and operates the related pet recovery registry under the trade name 24PetWatch. Pethealth is based in Oakville, Ontario. About PETCO PETCO is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food, supplies and services. 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. PETCO generated net sales of $1.65 billion in fiscal 2003. It operates 654 stores in 43 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading destination for on-line pet food and supplies at www.PETCO.com. Since its inception in 1999, The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $15 million in support of more than 1,900 non-profit grassroots animal welfare organizations around the nation. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements contained in this news release, if not historical, are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in forward-looking statements. Not for dissemination in the United States of America or to United States news wire services. For further information
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