(PRESS RELEASE) STAMFORD, CT — The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association announce Dr. Evan Antin as the 2019 recipient of Global Pet Expo’s annual Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award.
Antin is Instagram’s most-followed veterinarian with over 1 million followers. He went viral after being featured in People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue in 2014, and again in 2017. He took the newfound fame as an opportunity to further his mission of helping animals, appearing everywhere from NBC’s TODAY to ABC News, The Doctors and more and traveling to countries across the world saving the lives of animals.
Antin will personally accept the award on Thursday, March 21, 2019 in Orlando, FL, during The Purina Media Reception at Global Pet Expo. This media-exclusive event is held in conjunction with Global Pet Expo, taking place March 20-22 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando FL. Global Pet Expo attendees include independent pet product retailers, distributors and mass-market buyers, media and other qualified individuals from the pet industry and is not open to the public.
Dr. Antin graduated veterinary school from Colorado State and currently works at the Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Southern California. In addition to his love for cats and dogs, Dr. Antin’s passions lie in exotic animal medicine, while educating people about animal welfare and helping diagnose and treat animals in remote areas where veterinarians are unavailable.
“Dr. Evan Antin’s dedication to pets and use of his platform to help animals in need is what makes him an excellent individual for this award,” said APPA Executive Vice President and COO Andy Darmohraj. “He engages with the public through traditional and social media platforms and educates them about the care of animals, actively promoting responsible pet ownership.”
He added, “We are excited to have Dr. Antin as our 2019 honoree.”
Global Pet Expo’s annual Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award recognizes individuals in the media who have the power to influence millions of people and use this to positively promote the joys and benefits of pet ownership. Whether via print, broadcast or internet mediums, these distinguished honorees produce stories that highlight responsible pet ownership and all the exciting services, products and activities that make spending time with our pets even more enjoyable. Past recipients include: Jill Rappaport, Victoria Stilwell, Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, Andrea Arden, Brandon McMillan, Dr. Heather Loenser, Xiomara González-Govea, Connie Wilson, Sandy Robins, Dr. Marty Becker, Steve Dale, Gina Spadafori and Janice Brown.