Pet Sitters International's Pet Sitter World 2024
The picturesque city of Niagara Falls, New York, played host to the highly anticipated Pet Sitter World 2024 conference, organized by Pet Sitters International (PSI). This annual event, held from September 19-21, brought together pet care professionals from across the globe for three days of learning, networking, and celebration of the pet-sitting industry. Today, I'm recapping the event and sharing my highlights of Pet Sitters International's Pet Sitter World 2024!
About the Conference
PSI's motto is "pet-sitting excellence through education," This year's conference kicked off on Thursday, September 19, with an optional workshop on Pet First Aid, CPR & CPCR, led by expert Denise Fleck. A happy hour followed.
Friday morning saw the official start of the conference with a warm welcome and opening session, followed by the much-anticipated awards ceremony. This year's highlight was the recognition of Bobbi Wilson, owner of Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC, as the 2024 Pet Sitter of the Year.
The conference agenda was packed with diverse and informative sessions designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of pet care professionals across varying levels of experience. Topics ranged from cat safety and dog behavior to business management and marketing strategies. The conference concluded on Saturday afternoon with a closing session that left attendees inspired and equipped with new knowledge to enhance their pet-sitting businesses.
Notable Speakers
Notable speakers included Teoti Anderson who led sessions on recognizing subtle signals in dog behavior to provide better care and keep ourselves safe. Continuing education on dog behavior is always a highlight of these conferences for me. We dove into dog breeds, understanding breed traits, and how to live with a certain breed, and give them opportunities to use their innate skills.
The conference also emphasized the importance of advocacy in the pet care industry. Mike Bober's session on engaging with elected officials as a pet professional highlighted the growing influence of pet sitters in shaping animal welfare policies. I loved learning how I can be a part of the Pet Advocacy Network.
About the Connections
Between sessions and after-hours, we had ample opportunities to network and connect with other attendees, sponsors, and vendors. Together, we exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and discussed the latest developments in the industry.
As the pet care industry continues to evolve, conferences like Pet Sitter World play a vital role in keeping professionals at the forefront of best practices and industry trends. It's for this reason that I make it a priority to attend industry events like this one, which took place in Florida last month.
Many participants expressed enthusiasm about implementing the strategies and techniques they learned over the three days. I started using an app I learned about while diving into illness in cats and how to spot red flags, signs, and symptoms with cat expert, Shannon Huskins. The Feline Grimace Scale, which I'll share more about in a future blog, offers a smartphone app that helps us recognize acute pain in cats based on changes in their facial expressions. Fascinating, right?!
About the Location
A unique aspect of this year's conference was its location. Niagara Falls provided a stunning backdrop for the event, and many of us took advantage of the opportunity to explore the natural wonder.
Pet Sitter World 2024 wasn't just about professional development; it was a celebration of the pet-sitting industry's growth and importance. As more families rely on professional pet sitters to care for their beloved animals, events like this play a crucial role in setting industry standards and fostering a community of dedicated professionals.
At Hearts at Home Pet Sitting, we set a high bar ourselves. When the vibrant, growing professional pet-sitting community comes together, we elevate the industry for every one of its members, including pet parents and pets around the country.
Hearts at Home Pet Sitting offers in-home dog walking and pet sitting services in Yorktown, Poquoson, Newport News, and Hampton, Virginia. To register your pet(s) or home with us, please complete a new client questionnaire here. Existing clients may request services here. Those outside our service area are encouraged to find a pet sitter near you at the Pet Sitters International or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters websites.
Please visit our website or contact us by email at Hello@HeartsAtHomePetSitting.com or by phone at 757-745-9868 to learn more. We look forward to working with you and your pets!
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