Pets Best Insurance is located in Boise, Idaho, and was founded by Jack Stephens, DVM, who also founded the pet insurance industry in the United States.

In 1981 Jack had to put a dog down because the dog's owner couldn't afford treatment. Shortly after, the owner and her child saw him in a local store. When the woman asked her child if she remembered Dr. Stephens, she said, “Yes, he's the one who killed our dog.”

Determined to stop “economic euthanasia” for pets, Jack founded the first U.S. pet insurance company the following year.

Pets Best was formed after a quarter-century of experience.

After twenty-five years of experience in the pet insurance industry, Jack decided to take what he had learned and use it to form Pets Best. Jack contacted Greg McDonald, one of the founders of General Fire and Casualty, and together Jack and Greg founded Pets Best in October of 2005. The company quickly upped the standard of pet insurance care throughout the nation and the industry.

What makes us different?

Most of the employees of Pets Best were recruited directly from the Veterinary trade. Nearly all of us have been involved in animal rescues. We're pet owners and pet lovers, too.

We understand the pain of having to put your pet down. We never want that to happen simply because you don't have any help to pay the bill. And from the stories we hear , when it comes to claims we know that there are pets who are alive and happy today because their owners had the financial resources to continue treatment. We want that for you, too.

Pets Best is proud to be a member of NAPHIA, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association dedicated to educating and promoting the values and benefits of pet health insurance. Members of NAPHIA work collaboratively toward establishing and promoting the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry with an emphasis on creating a better quality of life for people and their pets.

Mission Statement

Pets Best provides peace of mind and financial relief for owners of pets who need veterinary care. We are always accessible to our policyholders. We endorse innovation and insight into modern veterinary care.

Our Team

Jack Stephens – Founder and President

Meet the Founder
A Leader of Pet Insurance in the US

Dr. Jack Stephens is the founder of pet insurance in the United States and most recently of Pets Best Insurance. A former practicing veterinarian, Stephens is a pet enthusiast who shares his home with multiple dogs, two cats and several horses. Jack's driving passion to increase the quality of pet care encouraged him to found Pets Best.

Jack has written and published numerous articles about pet health insurance, was a contributing author for a leading veterinary trade magazine, and is a vocal advocate for the positive effects pets have on our lives.

For all things pet related, Jack is the guru people turn to. If he doesn't know the answer, he personally knows the person who does. His leadership and experience make him our very own Captain Jack.

Torrey - Customer Service Advocate

As the Pets Best Customer Service Advocate, Torrey, Dr. Stephens' one-and-a-half pound tea-cup Chihuahua, works on your behalf to remind us all on a daily basis why we're here: for the pets! Torrey accepts e-mail questions at Torrey@petsbest.com. Of course, the human staff must answer the questions, but Torrey is in the office every day when she is not traveling with Dr. Stephens as an ambassador for Pets Best. Though small, she has the heart of a lion and fiercely protects her policyholders. Torrey is a one-in-a-million girl!

Greg McDonald – Chief Executive Officer

With nearly 35 years of experience in the insurance industry, Greg brings a wealth of knowledge to Pets Best. A graduate of University of Idaho, Greg served as an officer in the U.S. Navy before beginning his insurance career in Denver and eventually moving to Boise.

As the co-founder of General Fire & Casualty Company and the founder of InsurServ, Greg brings his experience and passion to Pets Best and has been a major force in Pets Best's quick success.

Greg's upbeat personality and unparalleled energy level keep us excited about what's happening next for Pets Best.

Skeeter - Former Chairman, Pet Relations

No other pet we know of has held an honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, but Skeeter did! Recognized for his powerful presence and inspiration for a commencement speech given by Dr. Stephens in 1999 at the University of Missouri Veterinary School, he received his honorary DVM degree. Skeeter was also the inspiration for the Skeeter Foundation, an organization that works to bring therapy pets to hospitals and nursing homes.

Sadly, he passed away in October 2008.

Skeeter had been an honorary board member of the Western Veterinary Conference, the largest veterinary conference in the world and is responsible for breaking the no-pet barrier at veterinary conferences back in the 1980s. He participated in numerous speeches, both at conferences and universities, and at two veterinary graduations where he sat patiently on stage in his own cap and gown.

Hugged by movie stars and children alike, Skeeter has inspired and funded research on the positive effect pets have on our health, and has been recognized by having his photo hung in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, in their hallway of stars.

Brett Johnson – Chief Operating Officer

Brett's background in IT management and Internet marketing strategy helps him oversee the company's technology projects and Internet marketing initiatives. As Chief Operations Officer, Brett also oversees daily operations and customer service to continuously meet and exceed customer expectations.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Science in business information systems from Utah State University and a Master of Science degree in electronic commerce from Carnegie Mellon University.

Along with the help of his uber-talented staff, Brett keeps Pets Best and PetsBest.com running smoothly.

Steve Gardner - Sales Team Leader

Steve is a great believer in the value of pet insurance and loves to talk about it. He has been with Pets Best since 2005 and really loves to coach, train and encourage his team to provide the best service in the industry. And he usually does so with a big smile on his face.

Steve graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Marketing and brings extensive retail sales and management experience to his position at Pets Best, where he's known for creative ideas and award-wining service. He says that when he's not in the office he enjoys working in his yard and garden, and spending time with his wonderful family.

Jared Hight – Claims Manager

Jared Hight manages the claims department at Pets Best and oversees all operations relating to claims. A Boise State University graduate, Jared spent 10 years in veterinary nursing and hospital administration before joining Pets Best.

Sara McCluskey - Customer Satisfaction Team Leader

Sara Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Sara has14 years of medical experience in human healthcare, which gives her a valuable perspective when it comes to animal health. She also has an extensive background in health insurance and related business policies and procedures.

As a customer advocate and supervisor to the Customer Service Team, she helps keep the needs of our policy holders and their pets in clear focus. And with her warm wit and good humor, she makes it fun to work here.

Paul Crane - Technology Manager

Paul Crane Paul poured concrete to put himself through college, which may be a clue to why he's so devoted to making sure our technology is rock solid.

He earned a BBS in Computer Information Systems from Idaho State University and worked as a programmer/business analyst for 5 years before becoming the Technology Manager at Pets Best. Here, he works hard to ensure the continued functionality of the Pets Best website as well as our internal systems.

When he isn't caring for our technology, he cares for his small family, including his wife and two sons (one son is human, the other is canine). Somehow, he also carves out time to run marathons, play softball and strike fear in the hearts of his fantasy football opponents.

Ken Webster - Business Development Manager

Our Business Development Manager loves sports and enjoys coaching his son's football and basketball teams. This team player has been with Pets Best from the very beginning and has scored plenty of wins, first as a member of the Sales Team, then with the Customer Service Team, before stepping to the plate of his current position. He holds a degree in Finance from the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

Outside of Pets Best, his time is mostly spent with his wife and three kids (with an age range from teen to toddler). His dog, Choko, is part lab, part German shorthair pointer-a very active (and fast growing) puppy.

Robin Tam - Sales and Service Manager

Robbin Ask Robin why she loves her job and she'll say "I'm very compassionate about people and even more passionate about animals." Her compassion has really motivated her career, from earning an Associate Degree in Sociology through more than 20 years in the health insurance/management field. "To be able to combine my prior health insurance experience with my love of animals is truly a blessing," she adds.

This busy mom of four kids and grandmother of two even finds the time to take care of two cats - Fat Cat, a long-hair Siamese/Persian and Tigger, a Tabby - and two dogs - Cisco, a collie/border collie mix and Sammy, a Cairn terrier. Together with her husband, Ron, she spends weekends and vacations fishing, camping and traveling. Incredibly, she has visited all 50 states!

Jennifer Neal - Marketing/Communications Manager

Jen Neal From a young age, it was obvious that Jennifer was a powerhouse of creativity. At College of Idaho, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art with minors in Photography, Graphic Design, Theater and Creative Writing. Now she leads our Marketing Team, applying her creative energies - and her 15 years of experience in graphic design and marketing planning - toward getting the word out about Pets Best.

At home, she stays busy raising an unconventional family that includes her husband, Cody; two cats, Mort and Tasha; and A Golden Retriever, Britt, all living in harmony. The family loves fly fishing and camping-as newlyweds, she and Cody even took Britt along for a honeymoon in the great outdoors.


At Pets Best we are committed to providing you the best pet insurance in America, designed to meet the needs of your pet's medical care as well as your budget.

Pets Best Insurance is located in Boise, Idaho, and was founded by Jack Stephens, DVM, who holds more than 25 years of experience in the pet insurance industry.




Copyright© 2005-2008 Pets Best Insurance Services