Pets First Group CSR Activity Report February 2026

Pets First Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Haruhiko Sakamoto) issues the "Pets First CSR Activity Report" to communicate its CSR activities, conducted under the philosophy of "Pets always come first," to a wider audience.

This report highlights the topics for February, including an update on the seminars for our contracted breeders, conducted as part of our CSR activity "Pets always come first Project," and introduces our efforts against "genetic diseases," one of the measures against intractable pet diseases.

■February 2026 CSR Activity Topics: Holding Seminars for Breeders on Pet Genetic Diseases

Since 2011, our company has been engaged in the CSR activity "Pets always come first Project" with the concept of "Making all pets smile."*1 As part of this, we are promoting industry-academia collaborative research*2 in cooperation with veterinary universities on "pet genetic diseases" and initiatives aimed at eradicating genetic diseases.

Genetic diseases are illnesses caused by mutations in genetic information inherited from parents, and more than 500 types have been confirmed in dogs and cats to date. Currently, reducing the risk of serious genetic diseases and ensuring proper management is a critical issue across the entire pet industry.

Our company has been working to support sound breeding practices that are less likely to produce pet genetic diseases by directly dealing with healthy breeders without intermediaries, and by sharing information and providing advice through continuous dialogue.

To further strengthen these efforts, since 2022, we have regularly held "Seminars for Contracted Breeders," inviting veterinarians and experts to share knowledge on genetic disease countermeasures, daily health management, and breeding. To date, nine seminars have been held, covering a wide range of themes such as reproductive science and animal husbandry management.

The 10th seminar, titled "Fundamentals of Pet Genetic Diseases and Latest Knowledge in Breeding," focused on "Pet Genetic Diseases" and was held online in February 2026.

On the day of the seminar, Professor Osamu Yamato of the Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, who has been conducting collaborative research*3 on GM1 in Mame Shiba (Miniature Shiba Inu), was invited as a lecturer. He provided clear explanations on topics ranging from basic knowledge of pet genetic diseases, mechanisms of autosomal recessive and dominant inheritance, results of GM1 research in Mame Shiba, and future challenges to be addressed in the field.

〈Lecturer〉Professor Osamu Yamato, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University

Approximately 20 contracted breeders participated in this seminar and provided feedback stating they were "very satisfied." Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with breeders and regularly hold meaningful learning seminars, covering a variety of themes beyond just genetic diseases.

*1: Related News Pets First Group CSR Activity Report January 2026 - Initiatives for the Happiness of All Pets -

*2: Measures against intractable pet diseases (GM1) https://www.pfirst.jp/protected_gm1.html

*3: Pervin S, Islam MS, Yorisada Y, Sakai A, Masamune S, Yabuki A, Rakib TM, Maki S, Tacharina MR, Yamato O. Carrier rate and mutant allele frequency of GM1 gangliosidosis in miniature Shiba Inus (Mame Shiba): population screening of breeding dogs in Japan. Animals 12(10), 1242, 2022.

■Our Main Initiatives for Genetic Disease Countermeasures

As part of the "Pets always come first Project," our company is promoting the following initiatives, in addition to holding seminars for breeders, to reduce the number of pets suffering from genetic diseases.

1. Awareness Activities on Genetic Diseases

We strive to promote understanding by disseminating accurate information regarding the risk of genetic diseases for each dog and cat breed. Furthermore, from the perspective of preventing the spread of genetic diseases, we strongly recommend that the general public refrain from unplanned breeding and undergo spaying/neutering surgery at an appropriate age.

2. Genetic Disease Testing at PF Lab

Since July 2025, we have started genetic disease testing at our in-house genetic testing facility, "PF Lab." In addition to puppies and kittens, parent dogs are also tested, strengthening our efforts to "prevent before birth."

3. Commencement of Genetic Disease Testing for Parent Dogs

*4: Towards the eradication of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) in Dachshunds - Pet industry's first initiative aiming for zero genetic diseases -

*5: New transaction policy formulated with breeders to aim for zero genetic diseases in puppies - Establishing a mechanism to prevent the occurrence of genetic diseases through genetic testing of parent dogs and pre-transaction confirmation -

Our company will continue to take the lead in promoting sound breeding practices with the aim of achieving "zero genetic diseases."

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■Company Information

【Company Name】Pets First Holdings Co., Ltd.

【Location】Orix Meguro Building 9F, 1-24-12 Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0063

【Capital】100 million yen

【Sales】14,659 million yen (FY2024 results)

【Number of Employees】1,257 (including 95 veterinarians, 95 certified veterinary nurses *including outsourced staff) as of end of February 2026

【Representatives】Representative Director, Chairman & CEO Haruhiko Sakamoto

Director, President & COO Shinma Masamune

【Newsletter】https://www.pfirst.jp/newsletter.html

*On June 6, 2025, Pets First Holdings Co., Ltd. became a group company of ARCLANDS Co., Ltd.

【Company Name】ARCLANDS Co., Ltd.

【Location】445 Kamisugoro, Sanjo City, Niigata 955-8501

【Capital】6,462 million yen

【Sales】315,700 million yen (February 2025 fiscal year)

【Number of Employees】13,094

【Representatives】Representative Director, Chairman & CEO Haruhiko Sakamoto

Representative Director, President & COO Yoshifumi Sato

【Other】

ARCLANDS Co., Ltd. aims to be a leading lifestyle value-providing group with the slogan "Fulfilling life, fulfilling heart." It operates businesses related to "living" and "food," such as the home centers "Musashi" and "Viva Home," the tonkatsu specialty restaurant "Katsuya," and the fried chicken set meal specialty restaurant "Karayama." By continuously evolving and changing, we specialize and respond to our customers' desire to "enrich their lives even more."

■Contact Information

【Regarding this content】

Pets First Co., Ltd. Public Relations Office

Phone: 03-6910-4500

Contact persons: Nishikawa, Ono