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Gerry Arner, co-owner of Pet ‘n Nanny LLC in Wake Forest, N.C., has been named Pet Sitters International’s 2015 Pet Sitter of the Year™. Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest association for professional pet sitters, presents this award annually to one pet sitter who embodies the passion and professionalism of the pet-sitting industry. 

“This honor is beyond humbling and I am delighted to be recognized by an exemplary organization such as Pet Sitters International,” says Arner.  “PSI has been the cornerstone of our business, providing support, guidance, and education, as well as setting the bar for excellence in the professional pet sitting field."

Arner will serve as the public face of PSI’s nearly 7,000 independently owned member businesses and represent the pet-sitting industry throughout 2016. 

“The hundreds of nominations we receive for this award each year demonstrate what invaluable service professional pet sitters provide to their pet-owning clients and selecting only one winner is a difficult task,” notes PSI President Patti Moran. “Gerry takes his responsibilities as a professional pet sitter very seriously and his commitment to his business, his clients and his local pet community was evident in the glowing nominations he received.”

Created by PSI in 1995, the Pet Sitter of the Year designation is considered the pet-sitting industry’s highest honor. The 2015 selection process brought in more than 300 nominations for professional pet sitters across the United States and Canada. Nominations for the award are received from professional pet-sitters’ clients, pet-industry peers and pet professionals, such as veterinarians. 

The 2015 Pet Sitter of the Year award is sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas, pet-sitter insurance provider and pet-sitting industry supporter for more than two decades. Serving on this year’s selection panel were “America’s Veterinarian” Dr. Marty Becker; David Pearsall, vice president of Business Insurers of the Carolinas; and Michelle Miller, PSI’s 2014 Pet Sitter of the Year. 

Arner worked in the food and beverage industry for ten years and then as a security alarm technician before joining his wife, Shannon, as co-owner of their pet-sitting business. He has been a member of PSI since 2005 and is a PSI Certified Professional Pet Sitter. In addition to pet sitting, Gerry is actively involved in his local community, serving on the Board of Directors for Pilot.Dog, a non-profit group that flies foster and rescue dogs to their forever homes. He also volunteers with the Franklin County Humane Society, Wake County SPCA and Safe Haven for Cats. Most recently, Arner and his wife have partnered with the non-profit Coalition to Unchain Dogs and created a pet calendar that has raised more than $2,000 for the organization to date. 

Arner will be officially crowned at PSI’s 2016 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference and Expo in San Diego, Calif., this September. 

The other top-five Finalists in the 2015 Pet Sitter of the Year competition were: 

• Carrie Feinberg, Safe Haven Advocate In-Home Pet Care, Elgin, Ill.
• Devina Singh, Devina Pet Care, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
• Gina Triay, Tall Tails, Slidell, La.
• Derek Wolpert, Beach Buds Dog Walking, North Bellmore, N.Y.

To learn more about PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year award, locate a PSI member pet sitter in your area or to request more information about pet sitting as a profession, visit PSI’s website at www.petsit.com or call (336) 983-9222, option 1.