Lea-Ann Germinder at WVC 2018, 18 years after the launch of Goodnewsforpets.com at the Conference
Today is not just any day—it’s Love Your Pet Day, dedicated to cherishing our furry friends. But for me, it’s even more special. Today marks the official 25th Anniversary of Goodnewsforpets.com. This milestone gives me great “paws” but also fills me with immense pride and gratitude and the desire to spread love to all who have supported this journey.
The official launch date of Goodnewsforpets.com was February 20, 2000, at Viticus Group’s Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, but this was an entrepreneurial adventure from the start. In true entrepreneurial form, the concept for Goodnewsforpets as a portal site for pet news was developed after many discussions with technical experts. Concepts were scratched out on notepads during my many airplane travels when internet access on the plane was also a faraway reality. There were also many sleepless nights well before that inaugural launch day.
Back then, the world was buzzing about the rise of the internet, much like today’s conversations surrounding AI. Websites were the news, and social media platforms were still a few years away. The launch of Goodnewsforpets.com at WVC was a leap into the future—a time of excitement and innovation, but I had no idea what was to come.
Amy Shojai and Lea-Ann Germinder in 2020, 20 years after the launch of Goodnewsforpets.com
When we first started, Goodnewsforpets.com was fortunate to have the support of the Cat Writers’ Association of America (CWA) as our first media organization sponsor, thanks to Amy Shojai’s vision. Soon after, the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA), with the legendary Mordecai Siegal at the helm, joined us after I met him in the Westminster Kennel Club press room at Madison Square Garden.
Steve Dale had already signed on as our very first featured columnist (I had told him about the idea, and he quickly and gratefully for us said – I’m in), and over the years, we had the privilege of working with Ranny Green, Mordecai Siegal, and Julie Lux as editor, and so many CWA leaders like Deb Barnes. Also, there are so many DWAA leaders, including past president Jen Reeder, who was installed into the DWAA Hall of Fame and who I recently interviewed. I have warm memories of these associations and the many companies and associations we have been proud to work with for sponsored content and pro bono educational purposes.
My focus the last few years has been on responsible AI research, and I am now entering a new chapter of focusing some of this research on veterinary medicine, which I hope will include sharing those insights with you. Through the years, we’ve covered countless stories, attended veterinary conferences, and published thousands of articles and press releases. I hope I can also bring some of those highlights to your attention in the coming months.
I am grateful that Goodnewsforpets.com remains a trusted resource for pet owners and the veterinary community.
So, as we kick off our 25th Anniversary Year, I invite you to celebrate with us! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just discovered us, thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to celebrating our 25th anniversary year. It feels pretty darn good.
Spreading the love, another look at my recent guest interview with Jen Reeder:
A Big Round of Paws for Super Star Writer Jen Reeder, 2025 DWAA Hall of Fame Inductee