Petco CEO Ron Coughlin was a big draw at last week's National Retail Federation conference at the Javits Center in New York, but it was a cute dog named Reeses that stole the show.
“I thought I’d bring a little friend along,” Coughlin told the audience when he appeared with the golden-haired dog to be interviewed by NRF CEO and Chairman Matthew Shay.
The pooch, about 2 1/2 months old and weighing in at 18 pounds, came to Muddy Paws Rescue, a foster-based rescue group in New York, by way of its Kentucky shelter partner Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society, according to foster mom Mallory Kerley.
Muddy Paws, a nonprofit that supports pet adoption efforts across America, partners with Petco Love, the pet shop chain's foundation that helps animals get adopted. The groups teamed to get Reeses on stage at the NRF show.
During his talk, Coughlin urged anyone interested in adopting Reeses to "come see us after."
On the good news front, Reeses did end up in her forever home. "Wanted to let you know that Reeses was adopted this weekend to a wonderful couple!" Kerley, who works for Muddy Paws, said in an email to CoStar News.
Pets played a huge role in buoying the nation’s mood during lockdowns at the height of the pandemic, Coughlin said at the NRF session. Petco has about 1,500 brick-and-mortar locations and is expanding as Americans keep showing their devotion to their canines and felines.
“I am 100% convinced that pets helped get us through COVID, the American population,” he said.
In 2020, 11 million pets were adopted and that “has been elevated since then, and it continues to be elevated,” according to Coughlin. He added that it’s “a misrepresentation” that there’s been higher return rates for pets since then.
“The returns are lower than pre-pandemic,” he said.
In the spirit of the session, NRF's Shay flashed a slide with a photo of his male canine, whose name is Macy — perhaps appropriate for the head of a retail trade group.