 Pre-1983
The Beginnings
Dr. Rory Foster and Dr. Marty Smith operated 4 Animal Hospitals in Northern Wisconsin. Their clinics were the first in the nation to offer free rabies vaccinations and free spay/neutering.
1983
The First Catalog
Doctors Foster & Smith, founded by brothers Dr. Rory Foster, Dr. Race Foster and partner Dr. Marty Smith distributed their first informational product catalog, a 16-page flyer sent to 1,500 customers.
See a sample of catalog covers through the years >
1985
Opens First Catalog Facility
The doctors move into their first facility dedicated exclusively to mail order pet supplies and catalog production.
1987
Dr. Rory Foster (1950-1987)
Co-Founder Dr. Rory Foster passes away from A.L.S./Lou Gehrig's Disease. Today, we donate thousands of dollars each year for research into cures for neuromuscular diseases such as A.L.S.
1991
 Begins 24/7 Service
The company adds 3rd shift staff members to its operations, increasing customer service availability and reducing lead times.
1992
Builds Current Facility
To better serve their growing customer base, Dr. Race Foster & Dr. Marty Smith build and open their current warehouse and customer support facility.
1993
 Launches Drs. Foster & Smith Brand Products
With the development and release of Vita-MinTabs, the doctors launch what would become the nation's leading veterinarian-formulated pet vitamin. As their product selection grows, the Drs. Foster & Smith brand name would soon become synonymous with superior quality products and excellent values. Today, the doctors' products are the preferred choice of our customers and include a diverse offering, including
joint care supplements,
dog and
cat foods,
dog beds,
cat furniture, and many other pet care essentials.
 1995
Writes the Book on Pet Health
International publisher Simon & Schuster, Inc. releases What's the Diagnosis?, the first of four veterinary handbooks for pet owners written by Drs. Foster & Smith.
1997
Expands Veterinary Staff
Keeping their growing business grounded in education, the doctors add a staff of veterinarians and specialists to help write articles, train Customer Service Agents, and provide backup for customer questions requiring medical or behavioral expertise.
 1998-1999
Launches DrsFosterSmith.com & PetEducation.com
Taking their award-winning catalog to the internet, the doctors launch two information-rich websites back to back: DrsFosterSmith.com and its sister site, the free information source - PetEducation.com. Both web resources quickly earn national recognition from customers and educators alike.
 2001
Becomes Nation's Largest & Most Comprehensive Pet Cataloger
With the purchase of Pet Warehouse and LiveAquaria.com, Drs. Foster & Smith expands its product lines to include essential supplies for
small pets,
reptiles,
aquariums,
birds,
ponds and
wild birds.
2002
Drs. Foster & Smith Brand Foods
As veterinarians, we firmly believe that your pet's good health starts from the inside out. That's why in 2002, we formulated our own healthy
dog and
cat foods with the wholesome, delicious ingredients you can rely on for optimal nutrition in every meal. Both pet foods have earned Top 10 Healthy Foods status from Whole Dog Journal.
2003
Opens Fully-Licensed Pharmacy
To help make pet care more affordable for all pet owners, we opened a
full service pharmacy to fill prescriptions online or by mail-order. Unlike other online pet pharmacies, we pride our relationships with veterinarians and work closely with your pet's doctor to provide the best care possible for your companion.
2004
 Wins Consumer Cataloger of the Year Award
Drs. Foster & Smith was named 2004 Consumer Cataloger of the Year in Catalog Success magazine's annual awards issue for an outstanding customer service and education-rich pet catalogs. Highlighted in the issue were Drs. Foster & Smith's new full-service pet pharmacy, expanded warehouse, and state-of-the-art materials handling system.
2005
LiveAquaria.com Opens Aquaculture Coral Facility
Our cutting-edge facility employs the most sophisticated technology in lighting, filtration, water movement, and quarantine systems to ensure the hardiest and disease-free coral selection for home aquariums. Our aquatic experts, diagnostic specialists, and veterinarians personally oversee the health of each coral frag.
The facility opened its doors in the summer by hosting the first annual Drs. Foster & Smith Coral Conference & Frag Swap attended by over 200 reef hobbyists, exhibitors, and expert speakers.
2006
Honored Among "Best of the Web TOP 50"
Internet Retailer magazine, recognizing leading retail websites in their annual awards issue, highlighted Drs. Foster & Smith's website among the Best of the Web Top 50 online. DrsFosterSmith.com shared the spotlight with other leading websites like Amazon.com, Dell.com, BassPro.com, iTunes.com, Nordstrom.com and Zappos.com. The editors found our online toy sound previews, video highlights, and "How To" pet care articles especially important in improving our customers' online shopping experience.
Annual Coral Conference Doubles Attendance
Buoyed by an overwhelmingly positive response to its debut the year prior, the 2nd Annual Coral Conference welcomed over 300 guests, traders, and reef experts.
Owner Recognized for Educational Excellence
Dr. Race Foster was elected to the board of directors of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Michigan State University.
2007
Expands Pet Care Selection for Horses & Ferrets
Starting early 2007, Drs. Foster & Smith expanded its product offerings to include a comprehensive line of horse supplies and equine equipment. After nearly 25 years of selling supplies for dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles, and small pets, the nation's most trusted name in pet care was pleased to respond to customers' requests for healthy horse essentials as well. In May, Drs. Foster & Smith purchased Neeps, Inc.'s pet supply division. The sale involved numerous pet-related websites, including FerretStore.com, FerretFacts.com, and related forums, while expanding our small pet product & ferret line by over 600 items.
Dog Foods Awarded Whole Dog Journal's "Editor's Choice" Seal of Approval
Every year, the editors at the Whole Dog Journal evaluate the wide selection of dog foods available to consumers and select only the healthiest, 100% natural diets to name as a WDJ-Approved Dog Food.
Drs. Foster & Smith Signature Series Dog Food is proud to be recognized as one of the top dog food brands and to share the same high standards concerning the nutritional health of companion pets.
Aquaculture Coral & Marine Life Facility Renovation
Three years after opening its doors, the aquaculture coral facility undergoes a $500,000 expansion to more than double its handling capacity. This allows LiveAquaria.com to offer an even wider selection of healthy fish, aquacultured corals, and clams for purchase online. In addition, the company's annual Coral Conference & Frag Swap, which hosted the grand opening of the center in 2005, witnesses record attendance, welcoming nearly 700 guests, traders, and expert speakers for the eagerly anticipated 3-day event.
DrsFosterSmith.com named Top 5 Websites for Customer Satisfaction
According to an independent survey of 20,000 online consumers conducted by ForeSee Results, Drs. Foster & Smith placed #5 out of 100 retail websites for overall customer satisfaction. While the average satisfaction index score among the top 100 sites was 74, customers rated DrsFosterSmih.com at a "superb" 81, placing the site in the Top 5 among superstars QVC.com, Netflix.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble.
2008
Drs. Foster and Smith Celebrates 25 Years in Business
February 15, 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of our articles of incorporation! Thank you for your trust and loyalty all these years - we could not have done it without you. Watch for specials and promotions running all year long as our way of saying thanks for your continued support.
"Faithful Friends" Television Show Premieres
Now airing, a fun and informative 13-week series of 1/2-hour shows devoted to educating pet owners on how to care for their pets. Each week, Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith invite special guests to offer you important information for your large and small animals. With the help of additional veterinarians and animal expert guests, Faithful Friends provides support to pet parents on subjects including health, nutrition, behavior, travel, new and aged pets, horses, fish & coral, birds, and more. Each show will highlight segments supporting a weekly subject.
Dry Food Awarded Whole Dog Journal's "Editor's Choice" Seal of Approval for 6th Year Running
Once again the votes are in and Drs. Foster and Smith Signature Series Dry Dog Food has been awarded the Whole Dog Journal's "Editor's Choice" Seal of Approval. We are proud to say that our dry dog food has made the list every year since it was first formulated six years ago.
4th Annual Coral Conference and Frag Swap
Over 600 coral enthusiasts, reef clubs, frag traders, hobbyists, vendors, and employees helped make our 2008 Coral Conference and Frag Swap another memorable event. The new Friday night reception was a huge hit with attendees! Tables overflowed with free pizza, hobbyists, vendors and speakers, all gathering around getting to know one another. Over the 3-day event, eight expert speakers presented on topics covering the ins-and-outs of keeping reef aquariums, from setup and stocking to coral propagation and testing, including an overview of the chain of custody and environmental impact in the industry, and an introduction to coral pests and means of control.
Helping protect our coral reefs - one frag at a time...
"We hold this conference to promote aquaculture conservation and technology. As home reef aquariums increase in popularity, we feel it's our social responsibility to do what we can to help reduce the pressure on the world's coral reefs. Every coral fragment we can grow in our own facility is one less taken from a natural reef. By providing an environmentally friendly alternative, we're trying to do our part to meet the growing demand for corals, while minimizing the impact the hobby has on our precious coral reefs." - Kevin Kohen, LiveAquaria.com Director
The Future. . .
We're proud to have helped whole generations of companion animals live happier and healthier lives by standing behind their owners with expert advice and affordable pet supplies, ensuring each animal receives the best care they deserve.
We don't know where the future will lead us, but we do know that our values and principles as veterinarians will always remain the same. That is our #1 commitment to you. We thank you for trusting us to help you provide the best care possible for your pet, and look forward to serving you however we can in the future. And if you would like to share your comments or suggestions with us along the path we take, you can trust we'll be listening.
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