Celebrating Professional Pet Sitters Week: A Tribute to Pet Care Professionals

This week, March 2-8, 2025, to be exact, we celebrate the 31st annual Professional Pet Sitters Week, a time to honor the dedicated individuals who provide exceptional in-home pet care services. This observance, established by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1995, has grown to become a significant event in the pet care industry. In fact, three of the handful of annual pet sitters conferences occur in honor of this important week. I just got back from the Texas Pet Sitters conference and will tell you all about that in my next blog. It was on a cruise in the Caribbean... Stay tuned!

History of Professional Pet Sitters Week

The roots of Professional Pet Sitters Week trace back to Patti J. Moran, who started her own pet sitting business in 1983 when professional pet sitting was virtually unheard of. Moran went on to found PSI in 1994, and the following year, she introduced Professional Pet Sitters Week to recognize the growing importance of this profession. Today, our industry - which includes pet sitting and dog walking in all its forms - is not only well-established, but it's also in high demand!

The Impact of Professional Pet Sitters for Pet Parents

For Yorktown area pet parents and beyond, professional pet sitters offer numerous benefits that significantly improve their lives. The top ones that come to mind include the following:

Peace of Mind

Professional pet sitters provide pet parents with the assurance that their beloved companions are receiving high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes. This peace of mind allows pet parents to focus on work or travel without worrying about their pets adjusting to a new space, interacting with strangers, etc.

At Hearts at Home, we take peace of mind very seriously, which is why we provide real-time scheduling confirmations and visit updates. We also track our employees' GPS location for additional layers of accountability and safety.

Convenience

In-home pet sitters allow pet parents to head to work and on travel without making additional stops to a boarding or daycare facility. Our scheduling allows for schedules that meet our clients' departure and return dates/times, preventing inconvenient drop-off and pick-up before flights and extended care fees due to facility operating hours.

Flexibility

At Hearts at Home Pet Sitting, we provide seamless 24-hour scheduling via our scheduling platform, which makes travel planning easy. We also accommodate last-minute requests and provide flexible scheduling based on your pet's species, age, temperament, and needs, ensuring that your pets get the care they need when you can't be there.

Home Security

Beyond pet care, professional pet sitters can also perform basic home maintenance tasks, including collecting mail and packages, watering plants, alternating lights and blinds, etc. These tasks ensure your home appears occupied and secure in your absence.

The Impact of Professional Pet Sitters for Pets

The benefits for pets are equally significant. Pets that are left in the care of a professional pet sitter enjoy the following benefits and more:

Familiar Home Environment

By staying in their own homes, pets avoid the stress and anxiety often associated with unfamiliar environments like boarding facilities. This familiarity helps maintain their routine and comfort levels. Pets also remain on a familiar routine, which eases separation anxiety and provides stability while their families are away.

Hygiene & Health

In-home professional pet sitters eliminate your pet's risk of exposure to illnesses from other animals, which can be a concern in boarding facilities and doggy daycares.

As stated below, we avoid other animals and strangers during visits. We also maintain a high level of hygiene when going from one home to another and ensure open lines of communication with other clients to ensure the following:

• We can remain informed of contagious illnesses that may be present in our area

• We can prevent cross-contamination or exposure for the pets in our care

• We can keep an eye out for pests like fleas and ticks to ensure we are not transporting critters from one home to another

Controlled Socialization

Professional pet sitters provide one-on-one attention and controlled socialization with trusted humans, which is especially beneficial for pets that may be anxious or have special needs.

At Hearts at Home, we avoid strangers and other animals while on walks and during visits. Why? Because we can only control our behavior and the care we're providing. By avoiding uncontrolled, unplanned, and unfamiliar interactions, we prevent putting pets in a situation that they may not enjoy or one that may cause fear and anxiety.

Specialized Pet Care

Professional pet sitters undergo continuous education to stay updated on pet care best practices. This ensures that pets receive expert care tailored to their individual needs.

At Hearts at Home Pet Sitting, we believe that educating our staff ensures your satisfaction and your pet's well-being, which is why I am passionate about continuing education and ongoing training. The only way I can ensure that all our employees are providing the care that I expect from them is to teach them how to do it and why it's so important!

Emergency Preparedness

One of the most important training we do at Hearts at Home Pet Sitting is emergency preparedness. Our sitters and walkers are prepared for anything, and as a team-based operation, we have back-ups in place to help as needed.

With Pet First Aid & CPR training as well as species-specific education, our team is prepared to recognize concerning symptoms and will rise to the occasion if your pet needs emergency veterinary attention or extended care in your absence.

Celebrating Professional Pet Sitters Week 2025

Professional Pet Sitters Week is a time to appreciate the hard work and dedication of these unsung heroes in the pet care industry. As we celebrate this week, we encourage you to take a moment to thank the professional pet sitters who make it possible to balance your busy lives while ensuring our pets receive the best care possible. Learn more about how to thank your professional pet sitter and dog walker here.

Today, on Thank Your Pet Sitter Day, which is part of this special week, I am honored to celebrate the extraordinary team of professionals that make up Hearts at Home Pet Sitting. We couldn't do what we do without their passion for pets, dedication to quality, and commitment to meeting the needs of companion animals in the Peninsula area.

Professional Pet Sitting & Dog Walking in Yorktown, Poquoson, Newport News, and Hampton, Virginia

As we celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week, it's important to recognize the significant role our dedicated professionals play in the lives of both pets and their owners. Our team provides more than just a service; we offer companionship, expertise, and peace of mind.

Hearts at Home Pet Sitting offers dog walking and cat sitting services in Yorktown, Poquoson, Hampton, and Newport News. 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.