NEW YORK—John Eccleston, a 28-year marketing veteran with two decades of pet PR experience, and Julia Szabo, former pet reporter for the New York Post and noted pet author and journalist, have joined forces to form Tail Wag Media, which will offer pet wellness and pet lifestyle PR and marketing services for pet product and service companies and non-pet product marketers that want to reach consumers who own pets.

For the past 10 years, Eccleston has operated the successful boutique firm OpenGate Marketing in which he will continue to have a role while growing Tail Wag Media. Prior to starting OpenGate, he was senior vice president, partner and chief creative officer for Earle Palmer Brown’s PR practice, where he worked on Novartis Animal Health and Hill’s Pet Nutrition among other non-pet clients.

Szabo’s byline and commentary have appeared in magazines, newspapers, and online media outlets, from The New York Times to Family Circle, Reader's Digest to Cesar's Way. She is the author of six books, including the acclaimed "Animal House Style: Designing a Home to Share with Your Pets," and appears often on national and local TV.