By Linda Chiem ( August 3, 2015, 5:55 PM EDT) -- Petco Animal Supplies Inc. has hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to look into a sale or potential initial public offering that could value the private equity-backed pet products retailer between $4 billion and $5 billion, including debt, Reuters reported Monday. San Diego-based Petco, which is owned by private equity firms TPG Capital LP and Leonard Green & Partners LP, is working with Goldman Sachs on an outright sale to another company or private equity group, the report said. But Petco is also considering pursuing the IPO track, working with Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. to prepare a public float if the sale process falls short of the owners' valuation expectations, the report said....