RALEIGH, NC. — FWV Fetching, the pet and animal health marketing division of French/West/Vaughan, celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year, boasting growth driven by the significantly expanding pet and animal health industries.

Founded in 2003 by Kristen Levine, Fetching was the first agency that exclusively served the pet and animal health market, according to the agency. Levine founded Fetching after serving as PR director for Tampa Bay SPCA for 15 years. The agency served Purina’s Beneful brand, Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, the largest veterinary specialty practice in Florida, and Toyota. In 2013, Levine acquired PetPR.com, a market news distribution service, and later launched her own pet industry lifestyle blog.

Fetching was acquired by FWV in 2017.

“I believe our success has come from the understanding that we need pets as much as they need us, and that by making the world a better place for them, we make it better for ourselves,” Levine said. “FWV Fetching helps brands express that core value in creative and meaningful ways. As a lifelong pet lover and pet parent myself, I am extremely proud of that.”

FWV Fetching was also named the agency-of-record for the American Pet Products Association’s (APPA) and its annual event Global Pet Expo in 2021, and for the North American Veterinary Community’s VMX conference in 2022. This year, the agency won a Gold VETTY award for marketing excellence in the pet and animal health industry for its consumer-focused campaign for APPA.

“We have long recognized the importance and potential of the pet and animal health space, which is why we jumped at the opportunity to bring Fetching under the FWV umbrella when it presented itself, and the industry has grown exponentially since then,” said Rick French, chairman and chief executive officer of FWV. “Kristen’s passion and expertise in the category have given our agency an opportunity to sustain a leadership position in a niche that is extremely important to consumers, and we could not be more excited to celebrate this major milestone together.”

Fetching attributes its success to the growing pet industry. According to the agency, the global pet market grew by about 28% during in 2020 and the pet and animal health category is now worth a combined $120 billion. As the industry continues to expand, Fetching is dedicated to providing its clients with an array of integrated marketing services.

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