Our story

Our mission was initially hatched in the mind of teenaged Darryl Rawlings when his family was faced with a heart wrenching decision about their sweet and playful standard poodle, Mitzy. At just two years old, Mitzy was rushed to the emergency vet and diagnosed with a twisted stomach. Saving her life would require surgery. While the surgery was a relatively routine procedure, the Rawlings family couldn't afford the cost, and ultimately had to leave the veterinary clinic that day without Mitzy.

At the time, Darryl knew there must be a better way — one that could deliver a better outcome to veterinarians, pet owners, and of course pets — and yet the chance to act on his belief did not present itself until 15 years later. In 1998, Darryl started Trupanion (originally called Vetinsurance International, Inc.) with the goal of introducing a high-quality medical insurance offering for cats and dogs. In 2000, Trupanion had its first pet, Darryl's own mixed breed dog named Monty.

"I am extremely proud of this company and the work we do to help save the lives of cats and dogs. I truly believe that if Mitzy had Trupanion pet medical insurance all those years ago, she would have lived a much longer and healthier life."

- Darryl Rawlings, Founder & CEO

Here at Trupanion, we're creating a world where pets get to live their longest, healthiest lives possible. But we're not just a pet health insurance company — we're also pet parents just like you. We believe caring for your pet shouldn't add more stress to your already stressful life, so instead of paying for veterinary care upfront and waiting for reimbursement, we're the only company that can pay your vet directly at checkout. We also understand that pet parents need more than just financial support. Being a pet parent is a 24/7 job, so we're available to help 24/7/365. And because your pet deserves the very best, the amount we'll pay for their veterinary care is as unlimited as their love for you.

At Trupanion, we want to change the pet health paradigm forever. And we're just beginning.