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The association recognizes Elisse La Roche, co-owner of Chicago Bark District, in Chicago, Ill., for her efforts to promote and support local pet adoptions.

Photo provided by Elisse La Roche

KING, N.C. (June 19, 2017) — Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, has named Elisse La Roche, co-owner of Chicago Bark District in Chicago, Ill., as PSI’s 2017 Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year.

Since 1999, PSI has promoted pet adoptions through its annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® campaign. To further this mission, PSI created the Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year Award in 2012 to honor one PSI member each year who has gone above and beyond to promote local pet adoptions. PSI makes a $500 donation to the animal shelter or pet-rescue group of the recipient’s choice.

La Roche says she is “incredibly humbled” to have been named PSI’s 2017 Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year and has selected One Tail At  A Time as the recipient of a $500 donation from PSI in her honor.

One Tail At A Time is a no-kill, 501(c)3 all-breed dog rescue committed to lowering euthanasia rates in the greater Chicagoland area. La Roche has been an active volunteer with the organization for the past five years, helping with day-to-day work such as cleaning kennels and socializing dogs. In addition to these efforts and volunteering at community events and fundraisers, she also helped transport a puppy to New York City to be in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XII.

“This year, PSI received submissions from members across the United States and Canada who have worked tirelessly to promote adoptions and improve the lives of adoptable pets in their communities,” said PSI President Patti J. Moran. “Selecting only one member to receive the 2017 award was a difficult task, but PSI was impressed with La Roche’s efforts to promote pet adoptions through both her volunteer work and her pet-sitting business practices.”

Chicago Bark District, the professional dog-walking and cat-sitting business La Roche started with co-owner Cole Mason earlier this year, provides a discount on all services for foster animals and helps promote their adoptions by posting photos and videos on social media.  

“I have been a pet adoption advocate my whole life,” said La Roche. “From growing up with a rescue dog to my first volunteer shift at the local shelter as a teenager, I have been a champion of the adage ‘adopt, don’t shop.’”

To learn more about Elisse La Roche and Chicago Bark District, visit www.chicagobarks.com. To learn more about One Tail At A Time, visit www.onetail.org.  Visit www.petsit.com to learn more about Pet Sitters International and the annual Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year award.

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