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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 1, 2022) — This Professional Pet Sitters Week™, the professional pet-sitting industry is poised to celebrate the resiliency of professional pet sitters who have navigated the pandemic, as well as the rebound in the demand for professional pet-care services.

March 6-12 marks the 28^th annual celebration of this observance created by Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters. PSI introduced Professional Pet Sitters Week in 1995 to celebrate pet sitters and also to highlight the viability of professional pet sitting as a career and the importance of using professional pet-care services.

“Professional pet sitters and dog walkers’ businesses were significantly impacted by the pandemic, but they persevered, continuing to tailor their safety measures and their service offerings to meet the needs of their clients,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “We’re thrilled to see business rebounding for so many pet sitters across the globe and are happy to celebrate their dedication and highlight their value this Professional Pet Sitters Week.”

“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 with 70 percent of U.S. households now owning a pet, the need for professional pet sitters will continue to grow.”

During this year’s Professional Pet Sitters Week celebration, PSI will host its annual online summit for pet sitters and dog walkers, FOCUS 2022, sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas. During the online summit, PSI will release the first set of results from PSI’s 2022 State of the Industry Survey—the most comprehensive survey of its kind for the professional pet-sitting industry and the first conducted since the start of the pandemic.

“This summit is one of many educational opportunities that we offer throughout the year,” Stultz-Hairston said. “Pet Sitters International is here to provide professional pet sitters and dog walkers with the tools, training and data they need to offer quality pet care and build thriving businesses.”

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 parents with a peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot,” Moran said. “It’s essential that pet parents rely on qualified, professional pet-care providers who are committed to providing top notch—and safe—services, whether pet parents are traveling or working long hours at the office or from home.”

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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