Pet Advocacy Network Awards Recognize Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Care Community
Organization Celebrates Six Honorees for Leadership, Advocacy, and Innovation
Orlando, Fla. – Today, the Pet Advocacy Network (PAN) recognized six individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to responsible pet care, animal health and wellbeing, and advocacy on behalf of the pet care community.
PAN presented the awards during its annual meeting on Tuesday, March 25, in Orlando, Fla.
“We’re proud to celebrate these inspiring leaders and organizations making invaluable contributions to the responsible pet care community,” said Mike Bober, president and CEO of PAN. “Their exceptional dedication has helped improve the lives of pets, their owners, and the businesses that serve them. We’re grateful to work with this year’s class of winners.”
Nancy G. Knutson Lifetime Achievement Award: Svein Fossa
Renowned Norwegian pet advocate Svein Fossa received the Nancy G. Knutson Lifetime Achievement Award. Fossa has been fighting on behalf of pets around the world for more than five decades. A published author and established expert on marine ornamentals, Fossa serves as president of the European Pet Organization, the vice president of Ornamental Fish International, and secretary general of Norges Zoohandleres Bransjeforening. In response to growing international threats to pet ownership, Svein restarted the International Pet Advisory Council, which convenes representatives from pet organizations across six continents to regularly share information with one another.
Allan L. Levey Chair’s Award of Excellence: Jesse Forquer
Jesse Forquer, president of the Iowa Pet Breeders Association (IaPBA), received the Allan L. Levey Chair’s Award of Excellence. At IaPBA, Forquer works to highlight the commitment and expertise of Iowa dog breeders to lawmakers and the public. He leads by example, and his efforts to increase transparency and engagement are helping to counter misrepresentations of professional breeders. Jesse has also joined PAN in Washington for our annual fly-in and Pet Night on Capitol Hill, helping to share the power of pets with Congress.
Ambassador of the Year: Joe Hiduke
Joe Hiduke, category manager for aquatics at Chewy, was named Pet Advocacy Network Ambassador of the Year. His promotion of the value and importance of PAN’s government affairs work comes from personal experience and vast expertise, making him the kind of evangelist that every organization hopes to have. Hiduke also generously lends his knowledge and leadership to PAN’s work as co-chair of our Aquatics Committee.
Pet Advocate of the Year: Judy Breton and the World Alliance of Grooming Associations
Judy Breton, president of the World Alliance of Grooming Associations (WAGA), was named Pet Advocate of the Year. The launch of WAGA at the Groom Expo in September 2024 represented an important step in a decades-long effort to unite grooming associations around the world. For decades, Breton has been a leading advocate for groomers, working to promote best practices and educate groomers and the public alike. Her career, which started with her family-owned business, has included leadership roles at some of the largest companies in the trade, as well as the World Pet Association’s grooming shows and services. Breton’s advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels underlines grooming’s role on the frontline of pet care.
Pet Care Community Leaders of the Year: The Healthy Trade Institute
The Healthy Trade Institute was named Pet Care Community Leaders of the Year. Launched last year as an outgrowth of conversations among scientists, researchers, and the amphibian breeding community, the Healthy Trade Institute is a nonprofit that seeks to promote ethical and sustainable trade practices to enhance amphibian well-being in both pets and wildlife. It leads a certification program and educational efforts aimed at mitigating the risks of disease outbreak and transmission. Beginning in May 2025, the Institute will launch a herp adoption program that will work in tandem with the industry’s Habitattitude initiative, helping to prevent pet releases into the wild and protect native ecosystems. PAN has actively supported all of these conversations and continues to work with the Institute.
Power of Pets: Nulo Foods, “Fuel Incredible” Campaign
Nulo Foods received the Power of Pets Award for its “Fuel Incredible” advertising campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Summer Games. In the run-up to the event, Nulo announced an advertising partnership with eight Olympians, including Gold medalist Simone Biles, highlighting the connection between the athletes and their pets. The “Fuel Incredible” campaign was about more than product promotion—it was a celebration of the human-animal bond and the power of pets in our lives. In sharing these stories, Nulo helped promote pet ownership on a global stage in a truly impactful and resonant way.