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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.44

                                    PETS.COM

                        KEY EMPLOYEE RETENTION AGREEMENT

        This Key Employee Retention Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into by and between __________ (the "Employee") and Pets.com, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), effective as of __________.

                                    RECITALS

        A. It is expected that the Company from time to time will consider the
possibility of an acquisition by another company or other change of control. The
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes that such
consideration can be a distraction to the Employee and can cause the Employee to
consider alternative employment opportunities. The Board has determined that it
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the
Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity of the Employee,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined in Section 5 below) of the Company.

        B. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders to provide the Employee with an incentive to continue his
or her employment and to motivate the Employee to maximize the value of the
Company upon a Change of Control for the benefit of its stockholders.

        C. The Board believes that it is imperative to provide the Employee with
certain benefits upon a Change of Control that provide the Employee with
enhanced financial security and incentive and encouragement to the Employee to
remain with the Company notwithstanding the possibility of a Change of Control.

        D. Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement are defined in
Section 5 below.

        The parties hereto agree as follows:

        1. TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier
of: (a) the termination of Employee's employment for any reason prior to a
Change of Control, or (b) the date that all obligations of the parties hereto
with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

        2. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. The Company and the Employee acknowledge that the
Employee's employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under
applicable law. If the Employee's employment terminates for any reason prior to
a Change of Control, the Employee shall not be entitled to the benefits provided
by this Agreement, or any other benefits

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unless otherwise available in accordance with the Company's established employee
plans and practices or pursuant to other agreements with the Company.

        3. SEPARATION BENEFITS UPON INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE OF
CONTROL.

               (a) ACCELERATED VESTING. If within one year of the effective date
of a Change of Control, the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
(an "Involuntary Termination") by the Company or the successor corporation
without Cause or by the Employee as the result of a Constructive Termination by
the Company or the successor corporation, then, subject to the limitations in
this Section 3(a) and Section 4 below, the vesting of 25% of Employee's then
unvested shares of the Company's common stock shall automatically be accelerated
so as to become vested as of the effective date of the Involuntary Termination
or Constructive Termination. Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the
Company commences substantive discussions with a potential acquiror prior to
January 1, 2001 and such substantive discussions result in a Change of Control
of the Company, the stock acceleration benefits described above shall not apply
to your unvested option shares. The original vesting schedule(s) of your option
shares would then apply.

               (b) SEVERANCE PAYMENT. If within one year of the effective date
of a Change of Control, the Employee's employment with the Company is terminated
as a result of an Involuntary Termination by the Company or the successor
corporation without Cause or by the Employee as the result of a Constructive
Termination by the Company or the successor corporation, then, subject to
Section 4 below, Employee shall be entitled to receive the following benefits:
(i) severance payments for a period of six (6) months following the termination
date (the "Severance Period") equal to the Employee's then current monthly base
salary; (ii) a pro-rated amount of the Employee's "target bonus" for the fiscal
year in which the termination occurs (or for the prior fiscal year if a target
bonus has not yet been determined for the fiscal year in which the termination
occurs), with such payment being made on the termination date; and (iii)
continuation of all health and life insurance benefits through the end of the
Severance Period, at Company expense. Severance payments under this Section 3(b)
shall be reduced by applicable taxes and shall be made in accordance with the
Company's regular payroll practices.

        4. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS. In the event that the severance and other
benefits (the "Benefits") provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to
the Employee (i) constitute "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section
280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and (ii) but
for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code (or any corresponding provisions of state income tax law), then the
Employee's Benefits under Section 3 shall be either:

               (a) delivered in full, or

               (b) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no
portion of such Benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the
Code, whichever of the foregoing

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amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income
taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in the receipt by the
Employee on an after-tax-basis, of the greater amount of Benefits,
notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Benefits may be taxable under
Section 4999 of the Code. Unless the Company and the Employee otherwise agree in
writing, any determination required under this Section 4 shall be made in
writing by the Accountants, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Employee and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the
calculations required by this Section 4, the Accountants may make reasonable
assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on
reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections
280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Employee shall furnish to the
Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably
request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company shall
bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any
calculations contemplated by this Section 4. In the event that subsection (a)
above applies, then Employee shall be responsible for any excise taxes imposed
with respect to such severance and other benefits. In the event that subsection
(b) above applies, then each benefit provided hereunder shall be proportionately
reduced to the extent necessary to avoid imposition of such excise taxes.

        5. DEFINITION OF TERMS. The following terms referred to in this
Agreement shall have the following meanings:

               (a) CHANGE OF CONTROL. "Change of Control" shall mean a sale or
merger of the Company, in which more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting
power of the Company is transferred to a third party.

               (b) CAUSE. "Cause" for Employee's termination shall mean the good
faith judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, that the undersigned has
engaged in or committed any of the following: (i) gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the performance of his duties to the Company where such gross
negligence or willful misconduct has resulted or is likely to result in
substantial and material damage to the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii)
repeated unexplained or unjustified absence from the Company, (iii) a material
and willful violation of any federal or state law, (iv) commission of any act of
fraud with respect to the Company, (v) breach of any confidentiality obligation
to the Company, whether determined by agreement or by applicable law; or (vi)
conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude causing material
harm to the standing and reputation of the Company, in each case as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

               (c) CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION. "Constructive Termination" shall be
deemed to occur if there is (i)(A) a material adverse change in Employee's
position causing such position to be of materially reduced responsibility, (B)
any reduction of Employee's base compensation unless in connection with similar
decreases of other similarly situated employees of the Company or its successor
corporation, or (C) Employee's refusal to relocate to a facility or location
more than 50 miles from the Company's current location in San Francisco,
California;

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and (ii) within the 30-day period immediately following any of the foregoing
events, Employee elects to terminate his or her employment voluntarily.

        6. SUCCESSORS.

               (a) COMPANY'S SUCCESSORS. Any successor to the Company (whether
direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation
or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company's business and/or
assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to
perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the
absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term
"Company" shall include any successor to the Company's business and/or assets
which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section
6(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.

               (b) EMPLOYEE'S SUCCESSORS. The terms of this Agreement and all
rights of the Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

        7. NOTICE. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
personally delivered or three (3) days after being mailed by U.S. registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the
Employee, mailed notices shall be addressed to him or her at the home address
which he or she most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the
case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate
headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the attention of its
Secretary.

        8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

               (a) NO DUTY TO MITIGATE. The Employee shall not be required to
mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall any
such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Employee may receive from any
other source.

               (b) WAIVER. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified,
waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of the
Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach of,
or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other
party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the
same condition or provision at another time.

               (c) WHOLE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire
agreement between the Employee and the Company with respect to the matters set
forth herein. No agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or
written and whether express or

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implied) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or
entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter hereof.

               (d) CHOICE OF LAW. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California as applied to agreements entered into and performed within California
solely by residents of that state.

               (e) SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force
and effect.

               (f) LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES. The parties shall each bear their
own expenses, legal fees, and other fees incurred in connection with this
Agreement.

               (g) WITHHOLDING. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement
will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.

               (h) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this
Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the
date set forth above.

COMPANY:                             PETS.COM

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------

                                     Title:
                                           ------------------------------------

EMPLOYEE:
                                     ------------

                                     Signature:
                                               --------------------------------

                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Please print name

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.45

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

        This Loan Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of May 1, 2000 by
and between PETS.COM, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and RALPH
LEWIS (the "Borrower").

                                    RECITALS

        The Borrower desires to borrow and the Company is willing to lend
Borrower up to $150,000 on an unsecured basis under the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.

        NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Borrower agree as follows:

        1. The Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the
Company will a make a loan to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of
$150,000 (the "Loan"), and bearing interest at a rate of 6.42% per annum,
compounded annually.

        2. The Note. The Loan shall be evidenced by a full-recourse promissory
note executed and delivered by the Borrower in favor of the Company
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Note") with unpaid
principal and accrued interest due on the third anniversary of the date of the
Note, except as otherwise set forth on the Note or in this Agreement. The
Company hereby agrees to advance $150,000 to Borrower under the Loan upon the
effective date of this Agreement and Borrower's execution and delivery of the
Note in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

        3. Acceleration of Loan. The principal and accrued interest under the
Loan shall immediately become due and payable in full upon the earliest to occur
of the following: (i) if on the 120th day after the date of this Agreement set
forth above Borrower has not completed the sale of his current residence located
at _______________, as demonstrated by documentation reasonably requested by the
Company, and relocated to the San Francisco Bay area in Northern California as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion; or (ii) within thirty (30)
days of the voluntary termination of Borrower's employment with the Company or
the termination of such employment for Cause (as defined below).

        For these purposes, "Cause" shall mean the good faith judgment of the
Company's Board of Directors, that the Borrower has engaged in or committed any
of the following: (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance
of his duties to the Company where such gross negligence or willful misconduct
has resulted or is likely to result in substantial and material damage to the
Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) repeated unexplained or unjustified absence
from the Company, (iii) a material and willful violation of any federal or state
law, (iv) commission of any act of fraud with respect to the Company, (v) breach
of any confidentiality obligation to the Company, whether determined by
agreement or by applicable law; or (vi) conviction of a felony or a crime
involving moral turpitude causing material harm to

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the standing and reputation of the Company, in each case as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

        4. Partial Forgiveness of the Loan. The Company shall forgive the
outstanding principal and accrued interest under the Loan and such amount shall
no longer be payable to the Company as follows:

               (a) one-third (1/3) of the original principal amount under the
Loan and any accrued interest shall be forgiven on each of the first three
anniversaries of the effective date of this Agreement, provided that Borrower is
an employee of the Company on each such anniversary date; and

               (b) the entire amount of outstanding principal and accrued
interest under the Loan shall be forgiven upon completion of a termination
agreement with Borrower in the event of the separation of Borrower from the
Company due to any of the following: (i) the involuntary termination of
Borrower's employment with the Company for any reason other than for Cause; (ii)
the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, (iii) the
liquidation, dissolution, consolidation, merger or other combination of the
Company (except a merger in which the Company is the surviving entity and the
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the merger hold more than fifty
percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity);
(iv) the insolvency of the Company, the commencement of any act of bankruptcy by
the Company, the execution by the Company of a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors, or the filing by or against the Company of any petition in
bankruptcy or any petition for relief under the provisions under the Federal
bankruptcy laws or any other state or Federal law for the relief of debtors.

        5. Default. Borrower shall be deemed to be in default of the Note and of
this Agreement in the event that payment of principal and accrued interest on
the Note shall be delinquent for a period of 10 days or more after it becomes
due.

        6. No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any
of the attachments or exhibits hereto is intended or shall be construed to
confer upon the Borrower any rights to employment or continued employment with
the Company, or shall alter in any way the nature of Borrower's current
employment with the Company.

        7. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
the respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the
parties hereto.

        8. Governing Law. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant
hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed,
construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.

        9. Arbitration; Dispute Resolution. Any dispute or claim arising out of
or in connection with this Agreement will be finally settled by binding
arbitration in San Francisco, California in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with
said rules. The arbitrator shall apply California law, without

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reference to rules of conflicts of law or rules of statutory arbitration, to the
resolution of any dispute. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for
preliminary or interim equitable relief, or to compel arbitration in accordance
with this paragraph, without breach of this arbitration provision. The
prevailing party in any such arbitration shall be entitled to an award of
attorneys' fees and costs of the arbitration against the other party.

        10. Advice of Counsel. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT,
IN EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE
ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND HAS READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE
TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED
AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR PREPARATION HEREOF.

        11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings related to such subject matter.

        12. Modification. This Agreement shall not be amended without the
written consent of both parties hereto.

        13. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is
declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or
void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said
provision.

        14. Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

        15. Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when delivered
personally or by a nationally-recognized delivery service (such as Federal
Express or UPS) or confirmed facsimile, or forty-eight (48) hours after being
deposited in the U.S. mail as certified or registered mail with postage prepaid,
if such notice is addressed to the party to be notified at such party's address
or facsimile number as set forth below, or as subsequently modified by written
notice.

        16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall constitute one instrument.

        17. Further Acts. Each party hereto agrees to execute, acknowledge and
deliver or to cause to have executed, acknowledged and delivered, such other and
further instruments and documents as may reasonably be requested by the other to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.

BORROWER:                            COMPANY:

                                     PETS.COM, INC.,
                                     a Delaware corporation

    /s/ Ralph Lewis                  By:         /s/ Julia Wainwright
--------------------------------        ----------------------------------------
RALPH LEWIS
                                     Title:      Chief Executive Officer
                                           -------------------------------------

Address:                             Address:       435 Brannan Street
        ------------------------                    San Francisco, CA  94107
                                                    Tel:    (415) 222-9999
        ------------------------                    Fax:    (415) 222-9998
Tel:
        ------------------------
Fax:
        ------------------------

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                                    EXHIBIT A

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE
$150,000.00                                                         May 1, 2000

        1. Obligation. For value received, RALPH LEWIS (the "Borrower") promises
to pay to PETS.COM, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the principal
sum of $150,000.00, with interest from the date hereof at a rate of 6.42% per
annum, compounded annually (the "Loan").

        2. Payment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that
certain Loan Agreement dated as of the date hereof between Borrower and the
Company (the "Loan Agreement"), including without limitation those provisions
which address acceleration of the maturity of the Loan and partial Loan
forgiveness under specified circumstances, the Loan shall be due and payable on
the third anniversary of the date hereof. Prepayment of all or any portion of
the principal and accrued interest owing under the Loan may be made at any time
without penalty. Payments shall be made in lawful money of the United States of
America.

        3. Remedies on Default. Upon any default of the Borrower under this
Note, the Company may pursue any legal or equitable remedies that are available
to it.

        4. Governing Law; Waiver. This Note shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of California, without reference to conflict of laws
principles. The Borrower waives presentment, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, protest, demand and diligence.

        5. Attorneys' Fees. If suit is brought for collection of this Note, the
Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees,
incurred by the Company in connection therewith whether or not such suit is
prosecuted to judgment.

        6. Full-recourse. This Note shall be full-recourse against Borrower.

        7. Loan Agreement. This Note is made pursuant to the terms of the Loan
Agreement and is subject to the terms and conditions of that agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be executed as
of the date and year first above written.

                                            "BORROWER"

                                               /s/ Ralph Lewis
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Ralph Lewis

                                               /s/ JLW
                                            -----------------------------------

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