EXHIBIT 99.1

Date:     November 4, 2004
Contact:  Bruce S. Rosenbloom, CFO
Phone:    (954) 979-5995
Fax:      (954) 971-0544

Hartville Group, Inc. Signs Agreement with PetMed Express, Inc.
to Market New Pet Health Insurance Brand

North Canton, Ohio and Pompano Beach, Florida, November 4, 2004
- - Hartville Group, Inc. (OTCBB: HTVL), one of the leading pet
health insurance companies in the United States, and PetMed
Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETS) d/b/a 1-800-PetMeds, America's
largest pet pharmacy, announced that they have reached an
agreement which allows Hartville to market its new pet health
insurance brand, Healthy Bark & Purr, to PetMed Express
customers.  Through this agreement, PetMed Express' customers
can learn about Healthy Bark & Purr pet insurance, receive a
quote and enroll via a link on the PetMed Express website at
www.1800PetMeds.com, starting on or about November 15, 2004.

"Healthy Bark & Purr was created to provide consumers with
convenient, easy-to-understand pet health insurance choices.
Our agreement is an opportunity for us to introduce our new pet
insurance brand to thousands of pet owners served each day by
PetMed Express," said Russell Smith III, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Hartville Group.

Mendo Akdag, Chief Executive Officer of PetMed Express agrees,
adding, "Our company is dedicated to the health and well being
of pets and we look forward to providing pet owners with more
information to help them manage their pets' health costs."

Hartville will manage all inquiries generated by PetMed Express
and the insurance plans will be provided by Healthy Bark & Purr.
To obtain additional information on Healthy Bark & Purr, please
visit www.1800PetMeds.com or call 1-800-884-6350.

About the Hartville Group
The Hartville Group is a holding company specializing in niche
insurance product lines with limited competition due to
specialization, which affords sizeable underwriting returns in
insurance lines such as pet health insurance, equine, farm/ranch
and animal mortality.  Since 1997, the Company's pet health
insurance subsidiary has become one of the leading and most
trusted pet health insurance brands in the United States.  The
Company's Healthy Bark & Purr brand is the latest extension of
its pet insurance offerings with a focus on the well being of
cats and dogs achievable through the purchase of its convenient
and easy-to-understand pet health plans.

For investment relations regarding the Hartville Group or
Healthy Bark & Purr, contact Summit Financial Partners, Tony
Altivilla at (317)218-0204.

For marketing inquiries regarding the Hartville Group or Healthy
Bark & Purr, contact MRA Group, Rob Conrad at (315)233-3000.

Hartville Group "Safe Harbor" statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the 1933
Securities Act and Section 21E of the 1934 Securities Exchange
Act. Actual results could differ materially, as the result of
such factors as competition in the markets for the Company's
products and services and the ability of the Company to execute
its business plans. These financial statements have been







prepared on the assumption and for the transaction materiality
that approval will be received for the acquisition of the
insurance group. The Company cautions readers not to place undue
reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by
applicable law, the Company does not undertake, and the Company
specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-
looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments,
unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such
statements.

About PetMed Express

Founded in 1996, PetMed Express is America's largest pet
pharmacy, delivering prescription and non-prescription pet
medications and health and nutritional supplements for dogs and
cats at competitive prices direct to the consumer through its 1-
800-PetMeds toll free number and on the Internet through its
website at www.1800PetMeds.com.

This press release may contain "forward-looking" statements, as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
or by the Securities and Exchange Commission, that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties, including the Company's
ability to meet the objectives included in its business plan.
Important factors that could cause results to differ materially
from those indicated by such "forward-looking" statements are
set forth in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in the PetMed Express Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004.  The
Company's future results may also be impacted by other risk
factors listed from time to time in its SEC filings, including,
but not limited to, the Company's Form 10-Q and its Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

For investment relations regarding PetMed Express, Inc., Pompano
Beach, contact Bruce S. Rosenbloom, CFO, (954) 979-5995.
                             ###

                       99.1 page 1 - 1