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Pet Sitters International is highlighting the resiliency of pet sitters during this annual observance that recognizes the importance of professional pet-care services and the viability of pet sitting as a career.

KING, N.C. (March 2, 2021) — After a challenging year that has underscored the resiliency and ingenuity of professional pet sitters and dog walkers, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is using the upcoming Professional Pet Sitters Week™ to once again shine a light on the viability of pet sitting as a career and the importance of using professional pet-care services.

PSI, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, will celebrate the 27^th annual Professional Pet Sitters Week March 7-13. Created by PSI, the observance is held annually the first full week of March.

“In the past year pet sitters and dog walkers have seen their businesses significantly impacted by the pandemic, as travel came to a virtual standstill and many people began working from home,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “But this week provides an opportunity to celebrate the value of professional pet sitters, who have continued to offer the highest quality pet care, implemented additional safety measures and even expanded their service offerings to meet clients’ unique needs during this time.”

“It is also the perfect time to highlight the viability of professional pet sitting as a career,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti Moran. “Professional pet sitting has long been a profitable and rewarding career option, and we expect to see a jump in pet-sitting requests as travel safely resumes and more employees return to the office, especially given the rise in the number of pets adopted during the pandemic.”

During this year’s Professional Pet Sitters Week celebration, PSI will host its annual online summit for pet sitters and dog walkers, FOCUS 2021, sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas. PSI’s online summit is open to professional pet sitters and dog walkers around the globe and includes sessions that cover topics ranging from brand protection to attracting your ideal customer.

“This is just one of many educational opportunities PSI provides to help pet sitters thrive at every stage along the Pet-Sitting Success Path—whether they are aspiring pet sitters still in the research phase or established businesses,” Stultz-Hairston said.

PSI also uses Professional Pet Sitters Week as a time to stress to pet owners the importance of using only professional pet sitters.

“Using a professional provides pet owners with a peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot,” Moran said. “Pet owners must understand that just because they’ve seen pet sitters in an online directory—or even on a nationally-publicized site—doesn’t ensure they are operating legitimate, qualified pet-sitting businesses and have the credentials and training they need to provide the best care.”

Pet owners can visit www.petsit.com/locate to search for a PSI member pet sitter in their area and to download a free pet-sitter interview checklist, which lists seven important questions pet owners should ask any potential pet sitter or dog walker.

The association encourages professional pet sitters to celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week™ with activities such as pet-sitter networking dinners, special offers for clients, donations to local pet organizations and local media promotions.

To learn more about PPSW or pet sitting as a career, or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com.

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