Pets Best Insurance, a leading U.S. pet insurance agency, announces Dr.Tony Poutous of Virginia Beach, Va. based Pet Care Veterinary Hospital as its second-quarter winner in the 2012 My Vet’s the Best contest.
Boise, Idaho– Dr. Tony Poutous has been selected as the most recent winner of the Pets Best Insurance My Vet’s the Best Contest, after receiving an endearing nomination from client Karen Calabro and receiving more than 3,000 clicks in an online vote amongst himself and five other nominated veterinarians from around the country.
The other finalists were Dr. Holly Brophy of Zion, Illinois, Dr. Irvin Ingram of Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Richard Chu of San Francisco, California, Dr. Kathy Joseph of Vandalia, Ohio and Dr. Luminita Sarbu of Renton, Washington.
Karen Calabro’s nomination was selected because she said Dr. Poutous genuinely cares about all animals and he’s quick to trade in his free time to work with clients after hours.
“Dr. Poutous is the world’s greatest when it comes to compassion, knowledge, communication and genuine concern regarding all animals here on earth,” Calabro said. “This man is an absolute treasure.”
Dr. Poutous said he was honored to win the title of “best vet” and that just being nominated was an honor in itself.
“I really would like to thank all our clients for being so dedicated and to Karen for nominating me in the first place,” he said. “I want to give my thanks and appreciation to the other doctors who were nominated as well.”
Dr. Poutous said he’s not sure exactly how he will use the $1,000 he’s won, but he thinks he has a pretty good idea.
“Our office does run an angel fund that we use to help defray the cost for pets that are in need,” he said. “I suspect I will donate that money to the angel fund so that way it can be used to help the most animals and the most people.”
The pet health insurance agency first launched My Vet’s the Best in 2011 and expanded it in 2012 to include even larger prizes. The contest began on January 1, 2012 and continues throughout the year.
President and Founder Dr. Jack Stephens said Pets Best Insurance created the My Vet’s the Best contest to recognize stellar veterinarians across the nation who have exceeded their clients’ expectations in every way possible.
“As a veterinarian, I know what it’s like to want to help an animal that can’t receive treatment because of the cost associated with veterinary care. That’s why this contest awards deserving veterinarians with $1,000 provide care for animals in need,” Dr. Stephens said.
Dr. Poutous said he thinks pet insurance can be very helpful because it can help clients afford veterinary care they might otherwise not be able to.
“It’s something you hope you don’t have to use, but I think it’s a very valuable tool,” Dr. Poutous said of pet insurance. “When my clients ask me about it, I say it’s certainly worth looking into. It’s nice to have the security there… especially when animals get sick or when there’s an accident.”
Pet owners who think their veterinarians have gone above and beyond for their pet are asked to submit their nominations through a form on the Pets Best Insurance Facebook page and website. Each quarter, an internal panel selects six finalists from all received nominations. The six veterinarians and their client-submitted stories are then posted to Facebook for public voting.
Each quarter, the pet owner that has the story with the most votes will receive a $200 cash prize and the winning veterinarian will receive $1,000 for the treatment of animals in need. One grand prize winner will also be selected in 2013. The annual grand prize winner will receive airfare, hotel accommodations and registration for two to the 2013 Western Veterinary Conference, a leading continuing education conference for veterinarians. The 2012 My Vet’s the Best contest will recognize a total of four winning pet owners and their veterinarians throughout the year.
More information about the contest, nomination process and rules can be found at: www.petsbest.com/vetpromo.
About Pets Best Insurance
With the goal of reducing economic euthanasia and his commitment to the health and well-being of all pets, Pets Best Insurance president Dr. Jack Stephens founded pet insurance in the United States in 1981. A true industry visionary, Dr. Stephens presented the first pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. Dr. Stephens leads the Pets Best Insurance team with his passion for quality pet health care and his expert veterinary knowledge. The Pets Best Insurance team is comprised of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value.
Pet insurance plans offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware Insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an insurance organization composed of Independence Holding Company, a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and its operating subsidiaries. The IHC Group has been providing life, health and stop loss insurance solutions for nearly 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit www.ihcgroup.com. In states in which Independence American Insurance Company’s new policy form has not yet received regulatory approval, Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut will underwrite policies. Each insurer has sole responsibility for its own products. To determine the applicable underwriter in your state visit www.petsbest.com/underwriter or please call Pets Best at 1-877-738-7237.
For more information, visit Pets Best Insurance or call 877-PetsBest (738-7237). You may also follow Pets Best Insurance on Facebook.
Dr. Jack Stephens is available for interviews.
