Pet Sitter's World Magazine Apr-Jun 2021, a publication of Pet Sitters International

WORLD

Nov/Dec Apr-Jun 2021 2019

PET SITTER’S

Expanding Services Beyond dog walks & basic pet-care visits

Training New Staff Keep these tips in mind

Pet Fire Safety What you need to know

A Publication of Pet Sitters International • www.petsit.com

$8.00 USA $10.00 Canada

May is

Brought to you by Pet Sitters International

PET SITTER SAFETY MONTH

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™

TIPS FOR AVOIDING DOG BITES

Get information about the history of each dog.

TIP: If an unexpected vehicle or person is in

the driveway when you arrive for a visit, DO NOT stop. Continue driving and contact your client.

Educate yourself on dog body language and behavior.

Do not allow people to interact with a client’s dog.

TIP: Avoid walking dogs and playing outside

with pets during the hottest hours of the day. Wear water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and reapply every two hours.

Keep canine clients on a leash and stay alert.

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Visit petsit.com/safety for additional tips, resources, special offers and discounts.

IN THIS ISSUE 4

Outside contributors in this issue

6

From the Facebook Files

7

Things to post on social media (April - June)

8

Exciting truth about the future of pet sitting

WORLD

PET SITTER’S

CONTENTS

FROM PSI

32 Insurance Issues 36 Enhancing your online presence with EAT 38 Professional Pet Sitter’s To-Do List

10 Visiting Vet: Combatting pandemic pet obesity

2

Pet Sitter Safety Month™

4

From the PSI President

6

CPPS Quiz

40 How to write a blog post that readers and search engines love

39 2022 Pet Sitter of the Year™

44 3 painful consequences of minimum payments

52 PSI’s 2021 conferences

47 Pro Tips

12 Wedding bells and doggie tails

Apr-Jun 2021 • Vol 27 Issue 2

51 PSI’s Upcoming Education Lineup 54 Certification Announcements

48 Keeping your business financial records in order

15 Beware of break-ins 16 Turn happy campers into happy clients 20 Help the media find you by creating an online media kit 23 4 tips to train your new employees 24 Pet-Sitter Success Stories: Alicia Valdés-Pagés, Winter Park Paws

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28 Pet fire safety 31 Member Idea Spotlight: Local heroes appreciation program

39

27th 23

On the cover

12 42

Meet Alicia Valdés-Pagés (r), founder and CEO of Winter Park Paws in Winter Park, Florida, pictured with cofounder Chelsey Rodriguez.

The photo was taken by Anthony Ballinas. Learn more about Alicia on p. 24.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 3

Patti Moran, Publisher Beth Stultz-Hairston, Editor Michelle Boles, Layout and Design ADVERTISING PSI Advertising P.O. Box 457, Pfafftown, NC 27040 advertising@petsit.com HOW TO REACH US P.O. Box 457 Pfafftown, NC 27040 Phone: (336) 983-9222, Press 1 for Member Services Fax: (336) 985-5673 Email: info@petsit.com Website: www.petsit.com OFFICE HOURS Monday—Thursday, 9:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m., Eastern Time STAFF Patti Moran, Founder & CEO Beth Stultz-Hairston, President Debbie Leonard, Manager of Office Systems & Information Technology Michelle Boles, Graphics & Web Content Manager Meghann Evans, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Casey Parker, Educational Programs & Certification Manager ©Copyright 2021 by Pet Sitters International Inc. All rights reserved.

Pet Sitter’s World is the official publication of Pet Sitters International, Inc. (PSI). Printed in the USA.

Pet Sitter’s World is published by PSI and is available exclusively through PSI membership. No portion of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of PSI and all authorized reproductions must cite Pet Sitter’s World, published

by Pet Sitters International, as the source. Requests for reprint permission should be addressed to Editor, Pet Sitter’s World, P.O. Box 457 Pfafftown, NC 27040.

Publication of any article or advertisement should not be deemed an endorsement of the opinions expressed or products advertised. Pet Sitter’s World is a trademark of PSI.

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FROM THE PSI PRESIDENT

It’s Time to Spring Forward!

For those who live in areas that observe Daylight Saving Time, you’ll need to set

your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 14. While I’m not the biggest fan of Daylight Saving Time (the clock on my microwave will have the wrong time until it’s time to “fall back”in November!), I do love the idea that we get to “spring forward,” especially this year!

“Even if you fall on your face, you are still moving forward.” —Victor Kiam I found the above quote while searching for inspirational quotes related to looking ahead to the future. While it isn’t the sentiment I was initially looking for, I think it’s the exact truth I needed to read. If you’re like me, you feel like you’ve fallen on your face quite a bit over the past year. But, isn’t that to be expected? As an industry—and individually—we’ve likely all faced experiences we never planned to encounter over the past 12 months. So, maybe business hasn’t picked up as quickly as you’d like, or maybe you feel that you’ve wasted your downtime and not focused on improving your business systems or taking advantage of continuing education as you had planned. Yet, here you are—still in business, still moving forward and celebrating another year as an entrepreneur. So, show yourself some grace and celebrate your grit and determination!

Whether you’ve taken big steps—or had big falls—over the past year, you are still headed in the right direction, and we look forward to springing forward with you as our industry continues to rebound and thrive this year!

PSI President

Outside Contributors in This Issue Traci Bisson is a creative coach for pet pros with 26 years’ experience in marketing and PR for entrepreneurs.

She is also the owner and founder of It Takes a Village Pet Care, a sustainably focused dog walking and vacation pet sitting company located in Barrington, New Hampshire. For free marketing resources, visit TraciBisson.com.

Dr. Michelle Burch, DVM, is a certified Fear Free veterinarian with 10 years of small animal experience that has transitioned to veterinary telemedicine. In addition to extensive surgical training with advanced soft tissue procedures and orthopedics, she has a particular interest in preventative medicine. Read more from Dr. Burch at safehounds.com.

Denise Fleck is the Pet Safety Crusader™, having taught 25,000 humans animal life-saving skills.

Her mission is to help YOU make a difference in the life of an animal through her Pet First-Aid, Senior Pet Care and Disaster Preparedness classes. Denise has appeared on television, radio and in magazines, and has authored more than a dozen books. She is the proud recipient of multiple awards from both the Cat and the Dog Writers Associations, including the PSI Professional Pet Care Award. Learn more at www.PetSafetyCrusader.com.

Erika Godwin is owner and president of Barketing Solutions Inc, a professional website design and maintenance company designed to support businesses in the pet industry!

Erika graduated from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, with a BSc in business administration with a concentration in management and marketing.

After graduation, she managed a startup business incubator in Ottawa, Ontario, then moved on to founding ProPet Software in 2014 and is currently the CMO of this growing kennel software. Learn more at barketing.co.

Julie Johnson has been a financial educator and advisor for 22 years. When she was given the opportunity to become a financial advisor on the heels of a difficult and financially devastating divorce, she found her calling! The one thing she did not learn about as a teenager and young adult was how money really works…and she discovered that very few others learned about it either! Learning, and then teaching, the things about money that Wall Street doesn’t want us to know became her mission.

Rob Nager is a lifelong resident of Boston and the founder of Decadent Dog, a full-service pet care company. He was named PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year™ in 2008. Rob is a nationally known lecturer and regular contributor to Pet Sitter’s World magazine. He has been featured in the Boston Globe and Boston Magazine; television credits include WCVB-TV’s Chronicle and regular guest appearances on The Secret Life of Animals on New England Cable News.

David Pearsall is the vice president of Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which provides the Pet Sitters Liability Protection Policy and other insurance products to PSI members in the U.S. Visit www.psi-ins. com to learn more or contact BIC by phone at 1-800-962-4611.

Amy Toman has been working in the pet industry for five years, providing SEO and consulting services through her own agency, Pet Sitter SEO, and in collaboration with other firms. She’s spoken at pet-industry conferences, as well as on several online webinars. Amy is owned by two lovely cats, Phantom and Sloth, and is hoping to adopt a dog soon. To learn more, visit petsitterseo.com.

Courtney Underwood is an HR Alignment Strategist and CEO of Kassar Consulting.

With over 15 years of experience in human resources and talent management, Courtney understands the unique challenges that companies face when hiring and managing their talent. As an HR Alignment Strategist, Courtney helps her clients understand the importance of an effective team and how it impacts the growth and profitability of their business. Learn more at kassarconsulting.com.

Now available on

Pet Sitter apparel designs by Pet Sitters International

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 5

From the Attention CPPSs!

Take the Pet Sitter’s World Quiz to earn renewal CEUs. You can get a maximum of 10 CEUs per three-year renewal cycle with these quizzes. Look for a new one in each issue of Pet Sitter’s World!

If you are a CPPS, you can now earn one (1) CEU for answering all five of these questions correctly. The answers can all be found in the pages of this issue of Pet Sitter’s World.

1. True or False: When optimizing a blog post for search engines, do not include a keyword in your blog’s title.

2. Fill in the blank: “A good rule of thumb is to set aside roughly ___ percent of your income for state and federal taxes.”

3. According to the information shared in this issue, how many fires do pets start annually?

4. What is the formula for determining your pet’s weight in kilograms?

5. List three of the updates you should include when announcing a new hire for your business.

Email your answers to education@petsit.com and be sure to include the Subject Line: Apr-Jun World Quiz.

Renew Your

CPPS®!

Download the complete list of CPPS renewal CEU options. In the Members area of petsit.com, use the Certification Program drop-down link to Certification Renewal > Certification Renewal Options. A link at the bottom of the page will take you to the complete listing.

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Files Dealing with Dry, Cracked Hands Pet sitters and dog walkers walk in all climates and conditions—and face unique challenges as a result. Particularly during the pandemic, when we are all washing our hands and using hand sanitizer more than ever before, many pet sitters are finding that dry, cracked skin on their hands and fingers is becoming a painful issue.

PSI member Lauren Lewis, owner of Doggie Bone Dog Care in Houston, Texas, recently posed this question in Professional Pet Sitters Chat, PSI’s private, members-only Facebook group: Anyone else’s fingers hurt due to split skin because of washing one’s hands so freaking much? I wash, I lotion, I wash, I lotion. Everything from Gold Bond Ultimate Overnight to Cornhuskers—feel like I have tried Every. Single. Hand. Lotion. In. The. World! What do you do?

Here are a few of the recommendations she received: I use O’Keefe Working Hands during the day. At night, I slather with this and put a pair of socks over my hands to keep the moisture in. — Stacey Coffman, Release the Krakens! LLC, Windsor, Colorado Neutrogena hand CREAM. I worked on cars professionally for over 20 years. No one could tell what I did for a living by looking at my hands.

—Lisa MacElderry, Cozy Cats at Home, Elgin, South Carolina Yes! And I live in the desert SW where the humidity is almost always low, so our air is dry. I wash so much my hands bleed. So, I’ve been using nitrile gloves—the nice black ones from ACE Hardware. I put on a new pair for every client’s house. Saves my hands, and I try to have protocols in place for disposing and using them. It’s a brave new world.

I’ve tried all the creams and lotions, too, but for me nothing really works ... except the gloves. —Barbara Gorzycki, Frumpy Fox LLC, Silver City, New Mexico Don’t laugh, but this horse girl swears by Corona Ointment. When I worked trail guiding and cinched up 120 saddles a day, Corona was the only thing that kept my fingers from splitting at the knuckles in the dry elevation. —Anne-Marie Kaden, The Pet Professionals, LLC, Willow Spring, North Carolina I use [CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Lotion] about 10 times a day, and then [CeraVe Healing Ointment] strictly for my knuckles, where they crack and split. —Robert Strickland, Away Home & Pet Care, Ogden, Utah To read more responses or to post a question of your own, visit Professional Pet Sitters Chat at facebook.com/groups/PSIChat. —PSI Staff 

Things to post about on social media:

APRIL-JUNE

2021 Below is a list of pet-related observances (and a few other interesting celebrations) you can highlight on your company’s social-media pages in April, May and June.

• April 24: World Veterinary Day

• May 20: National Rescue Dog Day

• Pet First Aid Awareness Month

• April 25: National Pet Parents Day

• May 23: World Turtle Day

• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

• April 26: National Kids and Pets Day

• May 31: Memorial Day (U.S.)

• Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month

• April 30: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day; National Therapy Animal Day; Hairball Awareness Day

APRIL

• National Heartworm Awareness Month

MAY

JUNE • National Pet Preparedness Month • American Humane’s Adopt-A-Cat Month®

• National Frog Month

• PSI’s Pet Sitter Safety Month™

• Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

• Canine Fitness Month

• National Pet Month

• National Foster a Pet Month

• April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week

• Chip Your Pet Month

• National Microchipping Month

• Responsible Animal Guardian Month

• June 4: Hug Your Cat Day

• May 2-8: National Pet Week®; Be Kind to Animals Week®; National Small Business Week

• June 8: National Best Friends Day; World Pet Memorial Day

• April 1: April Fools’ Day • April 2: National Ferret Day • April 4: Easter; World Rat Day • April 10: National Siblings Day; National Hug Your Dog Day • April 11-17: National Dog Bite Prevention Week • April 11: National Pet Day • April 15: Get To Know Your Customers Day • April 22: Earth Day • April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day

• June 6-12: Pet Appreciation Week

• May 2: Mayday for Mutts

• June 20: Father’s Day

• May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day

• June 21-25: PSI’s Take Your Pet To Work Week®

• May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day; National Dog Mom’s Day

• June 21: PSI’s Take Your Cat To Work Day®

• May 9: Mother’s Day • May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day

• June 24: Cat World Domination Day • June 25: PSI’s Take Your Dog To Work Day®

Be sure to visit Professional Pet Sitters Chat, PSI’s private Facebook group for members, to download free social-media images for some of these observances.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 7

EXCITING TRUTH

About the Future of Pet Sitting

By Rob Nager, CPPS

2020 will be remembered as the year we’d all rather forget. COVID-19, quarantines and virtually no vacation travel have brought havoc and despair to the pet-sitting industry.

Here’s the good news: Based on current trends, our businesses are due for explosive growth in coming months. NOW is the time to prepare for the onslaught of new clients as they return to workplaces and begin traveling again.

Some forward thinking and strategy now will pay dividends for your business in the future. If you own a pet-sitting company, it’s time to get to work so you’re ready. Those who are prepared for post-COVID days will be able to take advantage of the huge, predicted growth.

Recently I was talking to my friend and top-notch Boston dog trainer, Alicia Posell. She said that the beginning of the pandemic raised many questions for her business.

Since everyone was at home a lot of people added dogs and cats to their families. Now? “I have never been busier and am excited that so many people are giving dogs loving homes,” she said. “The shelters are having trouble keeping up with the demand. I’m working with a lot of puppies!” In fact, The Washington Post ran an article in August about the number of adopted pets, which offers a strong indication of how much business is headed our way.

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All of those puppies and new pets are headed straight at all of us. However, we work in an industry that has expanded and grown. There are a lot more options for pet owners, from the web and app-based sitters to kids.

There are still lots of 12-year-olds offering to walk a dog for $10 an hour. And add to that the ubiquitous opportunities for these people to reach pet owners via a variety of internet options.

Stand out in the crowded marketplace

As professionals we are looking at an opportunity to distinguish ourselves to a vast new audience, to attract these relatively new pet owners. But how? Here are some thoughts: The power of networking Networking with other pet professionals is critical. Spend time talking to veterinarians, trainers and groomers; they are the ones most frequently asked about pet sitters.

When I started my company in 2002 an initial goal was to meet and build positive relationships with all of these people. I got to know everyone in the local vet practices by visiting sporadically with treats or to show them pictures of some of our mutual clients playing and having fun. If you haven’t done this, I urge you to start today. I am friends with many local dog trainers and routinely get calls from their puppy clients because we were recommended. When a vet, trainer or groomer recommends us that’s as close to a guaranteed new client as you can get.

The power of social media Social media has become even more important to people who had extra time at home during the past year. To be honest, I haven’t kept up with it in recent years, but now we are posting content on Instagram and Facebook regularly. We post photos, pet-care information, funny memes, etc. Our audience is growing because people share these posts, and the sharing continues as more eyes see them. You might have followers in your area or in Europe, Asia or anyplace else on earth. When someone from your town posts looking for recommendations for a pet sitter, they may just have a friend or family member living in Paris who has become a fan of our company. Those recommendations will help generate new clients for us.

questions, like what needs to be in my company policies, what insurance changes do I need to make, or how do I handle taxes and withholding on payroll? I usually find that asking questions always uncovers more questions I hadn’t even considered.

The power of staying in touch with clients Take some time to look at your business from a strategic point of view. How many clients did you have preCOVID? Do you want to get back to that number when things improve, or do you want to take advantage of the opportunity by growing your business? If you’re in the first camp you need to start working now to get your clients to return as their lives get back to normal.

Examine your pricing. Services and rates are critically important. Decisions on whether to raise prices are agonizing, but you need to consider the reality of our world and think about what you want to do. My company has raised prices twice in 18 years and I have had a pit in my stomach each time. I’m in the midst of making the decision whether to adjust pricing again as I write this.

My stomach is in knots just thinking about it. The good news is that despite the stomach issues I know these increases are good for me and my company and, well, aren’t we worth it?

We have been communicating with our clients since last March and I suggest beginning this immediately if you haven’t been. We send emails with information or tips for clients not used to being with their pets all the time, since families are at home now. Reminding clients that their pets may be experiencing behavioral issues, chewing and other things they will do when bored, underscores your importance to the balanced family life they used to enjoy before last March. My goal is to offer suggestions for helping them and keep them thinking about us. Some of our clients are already beginning to return to work and are thrilled to have us resume service.

Start now if you want to grow

If you want to grow your company this will be an unprecedented time for doing so. Without careful advance planning you’re going to experience problems so start today!

Here are some general ideas: Focus on hiring. If you’re a sole proprietor and are ready to take the leap, you’ll need to hire others to help you achieve your goals. In my view, staffing is the single most important part of our business being successful. Hiring sitters is a frightening experience, filled with unknowns and problems. Hiring is a separate discussion for another article, however, this is where I recommend reading business books and talking to people who have other pet sitting or other small businesses. Ask lots of

Seek out professional assistance. Hiring is only one part of the equation. Once you’ve hired people what do you do? Establishing company policies and making sure that you are doing things legally requires assistance from professionals. If you’re going to grow, a CPA and/ or employment lawyer might be a good place to spend some money. If you’ve never owned a business with employees or ICs it’s worth the time and money to invest in your future.

Revisit your service offerings. What services do you offer now? Are there other service areas you could offer like cat care, administering basic canine/feline meds like insulin or pills, or taking pets to veterinarian or grooming appointments? There are a number of new services that you can add to not only help grow your existing business, but also attract potential clients as well.

Survive now to flourish in the future

The key to enjoying the spoils in the future comes down to two things: preparedness and surviving this pandemic. There are many businesses that have closed or are teetering on the edge because of business drying up over the last year. We are doing everything we can to make sure we survive. We’ve streamlined costs, checked every company expense to make sure we’re on the right plans, and if we weren’t getting the best prices, we changed vendors to save money.

If you make it through this period and have done your homework you are going to win in the end. It’s critical to always be learning and asking for help. We have all been in situations where we weren’t sure what to do. It’s okay.

It’s been almost 19 years for me and I’m still learning!

Friends, I hope you are well and staying safe. Things are going to get better! 

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 9

Visiting Vet:

Combatting Pandemic Pet Obesity With Dr. Michelle Burch, DVM

Insights from a survey released

by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, in combination with Kelton Global, in December 2020, indicated that while pet obesity has been increasing for years, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the issue. More than 71 percent of the veterinarians surveyed said the pandemic had impacted the way pets eat, and one-third of pet parents surveyed with overweight pets indicated their pets had become overweight during the pandemic.

To help you best help these pets—and advise their pet parents—we reached out to Dr. Michelle Burch, DVM, from Safe Hounds Pet Insurance.

She offers this advice you can share with your clients: Pet obesity is the most common disease we see in dogs and cats. Obesity in our pets can lead to many other health problems, including joint disease, heart disease, and increased risk of diabetes.

When owners are in quarantine with their pets, the incidence of pet obesity will increase due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

The most important way I stress to control obesity is calorie control throughout the day.

Many owners show love to their pets with food in the form of treats, table scraps, or excessive kibble. To help determine how many calories your pet needs in a day, follow this formula (or ask your veterinarian for help).

Determine your pet’s weight in kilograms: Body weight in pounds/2.2 = body weight in kilograms. Resting Energy Requirements (RER): 30 x (body weight in kilograms) + 70 = RER. 10 www.petsit.com

Daily Energy Requirement Calculations Canine

Feline Growth DER

Up to 4 months = 3 x RER

Growing kittens = 2.5 x RER

Over 4 months = 2 x RER

Maintenance DER Normal neutered adult = 1.6 x RER Intact adult = 1.8 x RER

Normal neutered adult = 1.2 x RER Intact adult = 1.4 x RER

Obese prone = 1.4 x RER

Obese prone = 1.0 x RER

Weight loss = 1.0 x RER

Weight loss = 0.8 x RER

Work DER Light work = 2 x RER

Heavy work = 4-8 x RER

Light work is being active for two to three hours a day, while heavy work is active for over three hours a day.

After calculating your pet’s daily energy requirement (DER), it is time to look at their food. There will be a statement of how many calories per cup or per can on every container. Divide the pet’s DER by the number of calories stated. Ensure to include any treats or human food your pet receives.

I recommend breaking meals up to two to three times a day instead of one big meal a day. Spreading meals throughout the day will help keep their metabolism working and burn calories instead of storing them.

The second most important way to control obesity is activity. Your pet is meant to move and exercise through the day and not be a couch potato. Keep your pet moving with walks, chasing toys, agility courses, or interactive games. Yes, this can even be accomplished with your cat!

The third way I recommend controlling weight is to discuss the problem with your veterinarian, especially if you have been attempting weight loss for your pet at home without success. Your pet may have an underlying medical condition that prevents them from losing weight and needs support from your veterinarian.

Editor’s Note: Do you have any specific questions you’d like to see a veterinarian answer in an upcoming issue of Pet Sitter’s World? Email your questions to info@petsit.com. Use subject line: Visit Vet. 

PSI members, win $500 for your local animal shelter or pet-rescue group!

PSI is accepting submissions for the 2021 Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year award through June 1.

Visit

petsit.com/ petadoptionadvocate to learn more.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 11

Wedding Bells and Doggie Tails

By Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President

Rachel Foust (l) with Pippa and Lucinda Kitching (r) with Penny

As professional pet-care providers, you care for pets at every stage of their lives—but you can also be a great asset to pet parents at various stages of their lives as well, including on their wedding day.

In 2016, Millennial Magazine pointed to pets at weddings and receptions being one of the biggest new trends, and the trend continues to gain momentum particularly among millennial pet owners. Some couples choose to fully integrate their pet(s) into the ceremony (sometimes even as ringbearers or flower girls!), while others may opt for their pet(s) to be included in the wedding photos (but not stay for the entire service).

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As a pet sitter or dog walker you can help orchestrate the pet’s participation on the big day—providing peace of mind to the couple, ensuring the pet’s comfort and safety, and generating an additional revenue stream for your business!

K.C. Heitchue, owner of Fur Baby Comfort & Care in Highland, Michigan, offers a variety of wedding services, including pet taxi, photo assistance and overnight care if needed.

“A typical wedding service looks like this: arrive at the client’s home for the feeding/potty break/walk, then pet taxi

the dog to the wedding,” explained K.C. “At the wedding, we either walk the dog down the aisle or assist with preparing a person in the wedding party to walk the dog down the aisle.

After the wedding service, we usually pet taxi the dog home for one last potty break and may also stay overnight if that service is needed.”

She promotes this service on her company’s social-media pages and local Facebook groups, including a wedding vendor group, and has found the demand for this service is high.

“We are currently booking more weddings than our typical overnight/ vacation care!” K.C. shared.

Clients of K.C. Heitchue

She charges a base fee for her wedding-day services, along with additional fees based on time and mileage, so the total fee varies from client to client.

Jenorise Mejia, owner of Winter Park Pet Concierge in Winter Park, Florida, says she charges a base, flat fee based on time and factoring in how many pets will be included in the wedding. Her company requires a second attendant when there are three or more pets involved in the wedding.

Winter Park Pet Concierge’s wedding services are fully customizable and comprehensive, providing couples with peace of mind.

“Our pet attendants assist with everything you can think of regarding their pets so they do not have to,” explained Jenorise. “Pets have their own professional chaperone for the day—which includes door-to-door travel to all venues, making sure they go potty and have a good sniff about the venue.”

Jenorise Mejia

“We also ensure the pet’s hydration, get them gussied up for the big moment, escort them down the aisle, and assist

with the all-important photos before, during and after the wedding,” added Jenorise.

While Jenorise says her company does little promotion of this service, she does have a wedding page on her company website and says the demand for wedding-day services has grown as the popularity of having pets in weddings increases.

She also notes that her wedding-day services aren’t just limited to dogs and will offer the service for any pet that can safely participate in the wedding.

While Nicole Corday, owner of Nicole’s Pet Care in Spring Hill, Tennessee, hasn’t seen a huge demand for wedding services—she’s only done two since she began offering the service in 2017—she will be working a wedding this coming fall.

“It may be that [in my area] many people do not know that such a service exists or even realize that it is possible to have their pets in the wedding,” she explained.

For now, she is promoting this service offering on her company’s Facebook and Instagram pages and has decided that an hourly fee is the most efficient way for her company to charge for the service, especially since some wedding locations are further than others and ceremonies last varying lengths of time.

Rachel Foust, owner of Wiggle Butts DE in Milford, Delaware, describes wedding services as “one of our favorite services we offer.”

Her company’s service, which she calls “Weddings by Wiggle Butts,” offers transportation to and from the venue, (continued) PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 13

accompanying the pet (all dogs so far!) during the ceremony, and assistance during pictures. They also offer boarding services for clients in need of extra care afterwards.

“It’s so special to us by helping them include their pet in their big day! We know they are a huge part of the family and should be included!” said Rachel.

She promotes this service through the company’s social media, lots of word of mouth and is also listed on local and out-of-state venues’ wedding vendor lists. Wiggle Butts charges a per hour fee and adds a travel fee for any weddings outside of Delaware.

Looking to add wedding-day services?

If you plan to add wedding-day care to your service offerings this year, keep these tips in mind:

1. Contact your pet-sitter liability insurance provider to confirm any services you plan to offer are covered under your current policy.

2. Determine the specific services you plan to offer

and determine your pricing structure. As noted, some pet-sitting companies charge a flat fee, while others charge by their hour and incorporate additional fees for extra pets or mileage.

3. As with any new service, you need to actively pro-

mote it! This may include adding a wedding-day service page to your website, announcing the new service in an email to clients, sending a press release to your local media and promoting across your social-media pages and in relevant Facebook groups. Also reach out to local wedding planners and wedding venues, and research to see if there are any local wedding expos or similar events hosted in your area.

Morgan Andenas Weber, owner of Lucky Pup Adventures in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offers this additional tip: “[If a wedding client] is a new client, we ask that we do a few walks or play visits with them ahead of their big day so we can build up a relationship with them. We want [the pets] to see us as a fun person to work with and not a stranger.”

“This helps us help the photographer get some great shots,” she added.

Once you begin booking weddings, news of your service will spread even more. And don’t forget to upsell your services—couples that need your services on their wedding day can also benefit from your pet-care services while they are on their honeymoon!  14 www.petsit.com

Morgan Weber

Beware of BREAK-INS Many agencies report that break-ins (of both homes and automobiles) increase during the warmer months. As a pet sitter or dog walker, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings when you arrive to a client’s home.

If an unexpected vehicle and/or person is in the client’s driveway, do not stop. Contact the client to determine if he or she is expecting anyone to be at the home. If you cannot reach the client and/or the client did not expect anyone at the home, contact local law enforcement; do not return to the home until law enforcement arrives and determines the home is safe to enter.

If you arrive at a client’s home and find open and/or broken windows or doors, do not enter the home.

Immediately return to your vehicle, leave the premises and notify the clients and local law enforcement. Again, while your first thought is likely to be to go in and check on the pet(s), do not return to the home until law enforcement arrives and allows you to enter.

You should also lock the doors of your vehicle before you enter a home for a visit. Then, once you enter the home, be sure to lock the doors behind you. This is easy to

forget as your schedule is busy and your first thought is getting inside to visit the pet(s). However, locking both your vehicle and the home ensures that no one can follow you inside (or sneak in while you are busy caring for the pets) or access your vehicle while you are inside.

Keep your keys and phone with you at all times during the visit.This ensures a) that you cannot accidentally get locked out of a client’s home and b) that you are able to have quick access to your phone in the event of an emergency.

As a professional pet sitter or dog walker, you should also be mindful that you do not keep in your car any client information or forms with personal information that could put clients’ pets or homes in danger should your automobile be broken into. —Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI 

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PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 15

16 www.petsit.com

Turn Happy Campers into

Happy Clients

By Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President

Looking to grow your business in the coming year? There may be a new hotspot for potential clients you haven’t considered before: your local campground.

client she’s worked with has opted to either leave their campers unlocked or hide a key—but not give her the key to keep.

While most of the leisure travel industry was hard hit by the pandemic, this was not the case for camping.

According to the North American Camping Report, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), interest in and frequency of camping has increased steadily since the report was first compiled in 2014 and is showing no signs of slowing. According to the special COVID-19 edition of the North American Camping Report, nearly half (46 percent) of campers either started camping for the first time in 2020 or began camping again after not having camped in recent years.

“It’s been so fun to work for tourists,” Lynnae shared.

“They are just so happy to see Alaska and just love their pets!”

So, while you may not have traditionally thought of campgrounds as a referral source, this change in travel trends means it’s worth looking at the possibility.

PSI members share their experiences with campground clients Jessica Milam, co-owner of Fur Services Fur Pets in Savannah, Texas, has an RV campground located right outside of her neighborhood. Her business was able to become the campground’s “preferred pet sitter” and is recommended to the campers. She says her company schedules meet and greets with these clients just as they typically would for local clients.

For Lynnae Schooler, owner of Alaska Pet Nanny in Salcha, Alaska, her location makes camping clients an ideal target audience. Because she’s in Alaska she says they normally have tons of visitors from the lower 48 states who RV in Alaska with their pets. She has cared for several campers’ dogs and cats while they go on group tours where pets are not allowed.

Her camping clients plan for pet-care services in advance.

She says many contact her before they come to Alaska and then she meets them for an initial consultation at their camping spot, usually as soon as they arrive. A key difference from her regular clients? She says every RV

While many campers are vacationers traveling for pleasure, this is not always the case.

Dacey Rauser, who owns Poop’d Out in Edson, Alberta, Canada, shared that pet-sitting requests from campers are actually quite common where she lives because they have a lot of people coming to the area for long-term work who prefer not to rent or stay in hotels. While she traditionally conducted an in-person meet and greet as she did with other clients, she’s recently transitioned to virtual initial consultations (unless the client isn’t tech savvy) and then follows up with a brief in-person introductory meeting to assess the situation for any clients with dogs that may be reactive.

Her clients let the campground groundskeeper know that she’ll be coming to pet sit, and she says the campground staff have always been appreciative of her services and ask for her business cards to pass out. Another perk?

Dacey has found that in her area the camping clients are extremely high-paying and high-tipping clients.

“These are clients that work 6-7 days a week and 12-14 hours per day,” she explained. “Because the stores would typically be closed by the time they were off work, they also used me for other services such as pet taxi, vet visits and picking up pet food and supplies.”

In some cases, camping can result in additional pet-care requests from clients you already service.

For Cami Vella, owner of Adventure Pet Sitting in Rochester, New York, clients who have opted to go camping locally—just for a few months to get away—have used her services. She says she’s also had a client with (continued) PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 17

a boat at a local marina, where she’s also been able to walk dogs. She found offering services at both campgrounds and the marina simple to do.

“Both the campground and the marina were open, and I didn’t need a pass or anything [to get in],” Cami shared. “What I found really nice is that most people there were pretty relaxed and seemed to know each other well because they were so close.”

She added that she enjoyed offering services more there than in some of the neighborhoods she’s worked in where everyone is very worried about their lawns.

Promoting your business to local campers Interested in adding campers to your list of potential clients? Start by making a list of campgrounds and RV parks in your service area. Websites like koa.com, reserveamerica.com, or hipcamp.com can be good places to start. You can also simply Google “campgrounds near [your city].” Make plans to reach out to campgrounds in your service area to introduce your business and learn more about how you can best promote your services to their campers with pets.

Many campgrounds have brochure racks or community bulletin boards in their offices for campers to pick up information on local attractions and businesses—and many also include links to other local businesses and activities that may interest campers on their campground’s website. You may also find that there are Facebook groups for specific campgrounds or groups that focus on camping in a specific area that may be able to connect you with campers in need of your services.

A top lesson many pet sitters learned in 2020 is the importance of diversifying their client base—and with a little effort you may just find that focusing on campers can help increase the cashflow in your business in 2021! 

18 www.petsit.com

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The PSI Blog

petsit.com/blog PSI members only Facebook group:

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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PSI MEMBERSHIP Whether you’ve just joined PSI or are a long-time member, these resources will help you take full advantage of your PSI membership.

STARTING YOUR PROFESSIONAL PET-SITTING BUSINESS

Estimated Start-Up Costs Checklist $ Amount Pet Sitters International Membership

_________________

PSI Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting and/or educational and training programs

_________________

Pet First Aid Course (in-person or online)

_________________

Business License(s)

_________________

Name Registration: • Local

_________________

• State

_________________

• Federal

_________________

Attorney Fees: • Business Name Consultation and Registration

_________________

• Legal Structure Costs (partnership agreement, incorporation, etc.)

_________________

• Business Form Development and/or review

_________________

Accountant Fees

_________________

Pet-Sitter Liability Insurance

_________________

Dishonesty Bond

_________________

Background Check

_________________

Pet-Sitting Service Contract

_________________

Bank Charges for Business Account

_________________

Separate Business Line (landline and/or cell phone)

_________________

Internet Connection Fee, if needed

_________________

Business Supplies (computer access, file cabinets, basic office supplies, etc.)

_________________

Advertising Expenses: • Website Design & Hosting

_________________

• Business cards and other printed promotional materials

_________________

• Paid advertising in newspapers, magazine, on radio, etc., if desired

_________________

Additional coverage that may be needed: • Disability Income Insurance

_________________

• Automobile Umbrella Coverage

_________________

• Workers Compensation, if needed

_________________

Miscellaneous Expenses (automobile tune-up, for example, comfortable shoes to wear

_________________

while walking dogs, etc.)

TOTAL

$_________________

Please note: This checklist outlines sample costs only and can be used as an example.

Your start-up needs and associated costs may vary.

PSI members only:

You can also follow us and join the conversation online:

The PSI Blog ©2020 Pet Sitters International, Inc.

GET INSTANT ACCESS

Information is right at your fingertips 24/7, 365 days a year in the Members Area of petsit.com. Log in to access:

PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES As a member you can increase and demonstrate your knowledge as a pet-care business owner. Resources and opportunities include:

• Free Monthly Member Toolkit

• Pet Sitter’s World magazine

• Pet-Sitting Success Path resource section

• Free live and on-demand webinars

• Free custom business profile on PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator

• The PSI Blog

• PSI member logos

• Discounted rate on PETSIT PRO

• Customizable, downloadable pet-sitter forms

• Opportunity to earn the Certified Professional Pet SitterCPPS® designation

• Customizable, downloadable promotional materials • Ready-to-use social-media images

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTED OFFERINGS

Access the business tools you need—at special discounts—through PSI’s Preferred Providers: • Pet-sitter liability insurance and bonding at a group rate • Discounted background checks for you and staff

• PSI’s online courses

CONNECT WITH FELLOW PSI MEMBERS

PSI membership also offers strength in numbers. You can take advantage of a variety of opportunities to share your lessons learned and learn from fellow PSI members.

Opportunities include: • Professional Pet Sitters Chat, PSI’s private, membersonly Facebook group • Pet Sitter World, PSI’s annual in-person conference

• Assistance with health and supplemental insurance

• FOCUS, PSI’s one-day online summit for pet sitters and dog walkers

• Prescription discount cards for you and clients

• PSI-Registered Networks

• Discounted products and courses at petsit.com/shop

• PSI’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest

Visit petsit.com/member-tools-resources to download your PSI membership benefits overview.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 19

Search Pet Sitters in...

Help the Media Find You by Creating an Online Media Kit

By Traci Bisson, It Takes a Village Pet Care

Lately, I have been seeing several professional pet sitters post in PSI’s Facebook group about earning their CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® certification.

Congratulations!

Business is slower for many of us, so this is a great time to work on professional development.

Did you send a press release to the media about your accomplishment? No? Wait, what?

You studied several months for this certification, which is one of the most difficult exams in the industry; you labored for hours answering questions to test your knowledge of the information; you worked hard to set yourself apart from your competition with this professional achievement, and you didn’t tell the media?

In the Jan-Mar 2021 issue of Pet Sitter’s World (pp. 40-41) I shared nine tips on how to get featured in the media. Go ahead, look it up. I will wait! Follow these tips to alert the media about your latest achievement.

Once that is done, you now need to keep this awesome momentum moving forward. The next step in this process of keeping the media updated on who you are and what you do is like the way you keep in touch with customers and prospective customers.

20 www.petsit.com

Most likely, you have a website that talks about your background and the services you offer pet owners. Does it also include a section for the media?

An online media kit (also known as a press room) is not something most pet professionals consider when creating and building their websites. An online media kit is commonly a landing page on your website that contains information of value to the media. Think of it as a mini kit or website whose target market is only the media.

Your media kit should be both creative and informative, plus easy to understand and interpret. The best media kits make it easy for reporters to quickly learn about your product/service and brand, and access photos and marketing materials they can use.

What should your online media kit include?

Use this handy checklist to gather the contents needed for your media kit and upload all the information into a Google Drive folder for safe keeping.

• Logo. Include a hi-res logo (or link to one) that can be downloaded and used if needed with a feature story.

• Professional Photo. Include a hi-res, good quality

image of yourself (or link to one) in your element or environment that can be used with a feature story.

In your element or environment means have a professional photo that shows your passion, shows your

work, shows you in the environment in which you are professionally.

• Images. Be sure to include 5-6 good quality images in your media kit that journalists can use for their stories.

Show pictures of you and your team walking dogs, caring for pets, and enjoying your work. Be careful not to include photos that would show the inside of your client’s home or where they live. You should also get permission from your clients to use photos for media purposes.

• Contact Details. Include contact details on your

media kit page. Consider setting up a separate email address just for the media (i.e. media@yourcompany. com) so you can easily filter out and find requests from the reporters and journalists. You could also include a contact form on your landing page that reporters can fill out and submit to you.

• Professional Bio. Include a succinct bio about your

expertise and professional background experience.

Three or four paragraphs of information is about right, longer than that and the reporter may skip over the information.

• Awards, Certifications, Credentials, Memberships.

Share details on awards or recognitions you have received. Include credentials specific to your profession, like the CPPS designation, as well as any memberships in national organizations.

• Sound Bites, Interesting Facts, Quotes. Outline

anything else a journalist may find interesting about you. Providing humorous sound bites and interesting facts makes a journalist’s job easier when searching for a good angle. Create a set of canned quotes that the media can use in their feature story. This makes it easier for reporters to attribute direct quotes without having to reach out or coordinate an interview.

• Recent News Coverage. If you have appeared in the

news or other publications, mention this in your media kit to increase your credibility. Show reporters articles and publications that you or your business have been featured in as well as any broadcast media coverage.

This can include blog posts, radio and TV interviews, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and links to podcasts or other websites. This gives reporters who are interested in talking about your business something to work from.

• Testimonials. Include testimonials from customers.

Your happy customers are your best marketing tool. Use your best testimonials to demonstrate your credibility. If you have media testimonials, include those as well.

• Social Media. Include information on your social media and other audiences. If you have an engaged social

media following, email list or other well-established audience, highlight that as well. Include both quantitative (number of followers, subscribers, group members, etc.) and qualitative (customer reviews, comments, etc.) information.

What does an online media kit look like?

Online media kits are a common and convenient format to create and distribute content to the press. After you have gathered everything in the list above, add a page to your website with the info or work with your website company to create. Depending on the amount of information you need to share with the media, a downloadable PDF will also work. Include a “media kit” link in the footer of your website. Most reporters and publishers will know to look for it there.

If you are creating a media kit on your website for the first time, do not stress if you don’t have much info to include.

When you first started your business, you may not have had many details on your website for pet owners. As your business grew, your website became rich with information about your services, expertise, prices, policies, community involvement, etc. As your media experience grows, so will your online media kit.

Following are a few examples of pet professional websites that include a media kit highlighting their experience to reporters and journalists. https://ittakesavillagenh.com/media-kit https://www.redpointydog.com/mediakit https://missbehaviortraining.com/media.html Keep in touch with the media The saying “if you build it, they will come,” does not apply to online media kits when you are just starting out. The goal is to now use this resource as an informational link when reaching out and introducing yourself to reporters and journalists via email. See strategy #6 on pp. 26-27 in the Nov-Dec 2020 issue of Pet Sitter’s World.

Regularly, you reach out to keep clients and prospective clients updated on what is happening in your professional pet business. This strategy also works well with the media. Don’t expect a response in return to your email.

Journalists and reporters are extremely busy. If you have a story to pitch and you do not receive a response, reach out by phone.

Building relationships with the media through an online media kit and making regular updates (at least every 4-6 weeks) will net you top-of-mind awareness. This ensures that editors and reporters will remember you when they need an expert for an article. You may not always get coverage of your newsworthy idea, but you have nothing to lose by cultivating these relationships.  PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 21

22 www.petsit.com

4 Tips

to Train Your New Employees

By Courtney Underwood, HR Alignment Strategist, Kassar Consulting

Once you’ve made the decision to grow your team, how do you train new hires effectively? It takes more than handing over an assignment and hoping that it is completed correctly. It’s important to set up your new staff member for success by taking the time to plan training as part of their overall onboarding process.

While it may appear that these steps take more effort upfront, the benefits are many: time saved, higher quality output, increased revenue, and an empowered team. You and your business are both worth the investment.

Follow the four tips below to ensure a successful outcome: 1. Create a training plan. Well before your new hire starts, you should take the necessary time to create an actual plan for training them. While this sounds simple, a lot of business owners hire reactively, resulting in urgent tasks being thrown at new team members in desperation.

This “sink or swim” mentality can lead to high turnover, poor execution, and a stressful environment for everyone involved.

what you need and can use the full breadth of their talents to provide it to you.

3. Let other stakeholders know. When training new team members, it’s important to remember that you are assigning responsibility for producing outcomes. These responsibilities usually require making decisions, and that requires letting both internal and external stakeholders (team members, vendors, clients, partners) know of the new addition to the team. Make sure to inform everyone involved in order to ensure that they fully cooperate. The time spent doing this is essential, because any lack of clarity can derail any contributions that the new employee is attempting to make.

Share the following updates when announcing the new hire: • What is the new hire’s role?

• What responsibilities will they take on?

• What kind of decision-making authority do they have for their duties?

• Who else in the company needs to know that this team member will be handling this task or project?

4. Check for comprehension. After your trainings are all completed, it’s natural to ask the new staff member if they have any questions. Practically every employee will tell you that they understand what you have presented for them to do, even if they are still a bit confused or unsure. After all, no one wants to appear incompetent!

Instead, prepare to train your new staff member by reviewing the job description and then asking the following questions: • What training needs to happen for this task?

• Who needs to conduct that training?

As a result, two things usually happen: • What resources or tools are available as reference materials for this training?

• The employee did not fully understand the task, and then bombards you with questions afterwards.

• Do I have any past examples of what success looks like • The employee did not fully understand the task, asks no for this task? questions, and then fails to deliver what is required.

2. Provide the context. As you begin to train your new team member, remember that context is incredibly import- The easiest way to prevent these common scenarios?

Once training is complete, ask your new hire to summarize ant when presenting a task that needs to get done. It is the project or task in their own words. That way, you can essential to make sure that you take time to explain how the task or project fits into the overall big picture, why the address any gaps in comprehension early on and have a outcome matters, and why they were chosen to complete far more fruitful discussion. it. Partnership is a strong foundation for training, and getting your team to care just as much as you do by sharing Your employees are the most valuable resource of your company, so do not make the mistake of just letting new your vision is a major key to success. hires learn the job as they go. Developing a solid new hire training plan is an important management skill, and taking This is how you cultivate ownership of the task, which the time to help your new team member feel supported fosters a culture of accountability. Additionally, providing in getting up to speed is critical. Investing in preparation context often leads to a more fruitful conversation. Quite benefits both your business and the new working relationoften, the end result is better than expected because the new staff member completing the task now knows exactly ship. It’s time well spent. PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 23

Pet-Sitter Success Stories: Alicia Valdés-Pagés, owner of Winter Park Paws

PSI member follows her plan to create life of her dreams

By Meghann Evans, PSI Marketing & Communications Coordinator

When Alicia Valdés-Pagés decided to become a pet sitter for a living, the decision did not come lightly.

With a background as a retail sales marketing manager, Alicia had always been taught that “a conventional career path was the only way to go.” Growing up, she never even knew that pet care was a viable career option and went on to follow the conventional path—but as a pet lover from childhood, her heart had always been with dogs.

So, after facing the fears and the “what ifs,” Alicia took a bold step. In August 2018 she started her pet-care business, Winter Park Paws, which she runs with her partner and co-founder Chelsey Rodriguez. The company’s suburban service area includes Winter Park, Florida, and the greater metro Orlando area.

“I took everything I had to my name and I created a new life, and it’s the life that I’ve always wanted,” Alicia says.

Now with 100 clients (and growing), Winter Park Paws has four employees on staff and plans on hiring two to three more this year. In addition to offering comprehensive in-home pet sitting and dog walking services—as well as other options such as in-home dog baths, pet taxi, and yard pet waste and litter box cleanup—Winter Park Paws opened a daycare and boarding facility in December 2020.

24 www.petsit.com

“My ultimate dream has been to provide my community a high quality and personalized and customizable pet-care experience, and that was where Winter Park Paws was born,” Alicia explains.

Utilizing and strengthening skills Alicia’s experience in the consumer goods industry—which helped teach her how to be a strong businesswoman and also provided her with tools to be able to communicate effectively and provide exceptional customer service— came in handy as a pet sitter.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: When it comes to customer service, Alicia has several tips:

• “Provide your customers a memorable experience, every time.

• Maintain a professional and positive mindset, no matter what.

• Keep open lines of communication, always.

• Respond promptly, truthfully and honestly.

• All communication is important, be transparent.

• (Keep) customers informed and up to date with business policy changes in a timely manner.

• (Provide) consistent communication regarding their pet.

• Remain positive when speaking and dealing with situations that arise.

• (Don’t disparage) competitors.”

Fortunately for Alicia, the pet care aspect of the business also plays into her stregths and passion.

“My whole life, I’ve always been connected to animals,” she says, highlighting that she’s always been a pet parent and would walk and bathe neighborhood dogs.

But Alicia didn’t simply rest on her experience as a pet parent or her intuition as a pet lover—she also made continuing education a priority when she became a pet sitter, taking pet first aid and CPCR classes and staying on top of current trends and pet-care advice (her PSI membership has helped her do that, she says). She enjoys reading the helpful information and inspiring stories about other pet sitters in Pet Sitter’s World.

For Alicia, continuing her education and maintaining professionalism are critical to her career.

“I’m always trying to better myself for my business and my clients,” Alicia says.

Marketing the business From the beginning, Alicia built a brand for her business, making sure she had a clear message, structure and

organization to show the community who Winter Park Paws was.

Your brand includes your logo, messaging, how you communicate and more, Alicia explains—even down to the font you use.

“The message we communicate to consumers is a simple, professional, modern, clean, safe, high-quality, and transparent company where customers can return to a freer state of being when it comes to their pet-care needs,” Alicia shares of her business. “Our brand is intended to communicate to our potential customers that we are a stress-free, high-quality pet care experience.”

Winter Parks Paws communicates that in a few different ways—with a simple, clean, professional, and modern font and logo. In their logo, the dog holding the leash is a symbol of who they are as pet care providers, Alicia explains, “with a tranquil and tasteful color choice.” And their website copy reinforces their key message.

TIP FOR SUCCESS: To learn the importance of branding early on—and stick to their branding—would be helpful to a lot of new pet sitters, Alicia says. “It is very important to understand who you are and what message you want to relay to consumers,” she says.

“Creating that through branding and your website is going to be a major key to reputation, growth and attracting the customers who are for you.”

As for marketing strategies, Alicia says she has been very active on Instagram and Facebook, sent emails and newsletters, kept her Google My Business listing updated weekly, and (prior to the pandemic) participated in local events. Since the start of the pandemic, newsletters and emails have been key in ensuring her clients know Winter Park Paws is still open and understand how the company is keeping them safe.

Navigating the pandemic Like other pet-sitting business owners, Alicia had to face an unprecedented event in 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic. It certainly has brought its challenges, Alicia says, but since health and safety is the number one priority for Winter Park Paws, they were able to shift quickly and keep clients informed of any changes.

As part of their health and safety measures, employees follow strict guidelines in homes and in their facility, including social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitizing when providing services. Winter Park Paws also offered contactless services with curbside or backyard pickup, and the company is paperless, using a client app that allows paperwork to be handled electronically. (continued) PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 25

TIP FOR SUCCESS: Alicia says one business tool she could not live without is her client service management software, which comes with a client app. She uses Time To Pet and says the app is essential to her business, providing clients with confidence, organization, structure, and peace of mind. Clients can make payments and schedule services from their phones. Alicia encourages pet sitters to research software options, do a comparison, and find the software that best suits their business needs.

As the pandemic lingered on, Alicia still moved forward with the opening of her daycare and boarding facility in December. It has a full outdoor area with pet turf and an indoor area with air conditioning, and the facility is cratefree—offering suites and a more intimate environment for the pets who stay there.

“I decided to go ahead with that because it’s been in the plans,” Alicia says, “and for me to stick to my plan is very important despite the nature of a pandemic.”

And dogs’ pet-care needs still have to be met regardless of whether there’s a pandemic going on, Alicia adds, so she felt it was still essential for her to be able to provide the services.

Practicing self-care As a busy pet-care business owner, Alicia makes it a priority to find time for the things she loves, like spending time with herself, her partner, and her dogs—“disconnecting to be able to reconnect.”

“I always remember to take a step back and remember that I cannot pour out of an empty glass,” Alicia says.

TIP FOR SUCCESS: Practicing self-care isn’t a onetime thing—Alicia says she has to realign consistently.

She advises pet sitters to always keep checking in with themselves and listening to their bodies.

Alicia focuses on giving things her undivided attention when not working on her business, which allows her to then be fully present in her business as well.

To be there for her business and her clients, she must take care of herself. And sometimes, taking care of herself has meant saying “no.”

You don’t have to be a “yes” person, she says—you can tend to your needs and do what feels right in your gut. Just because someone is paying you doesn’t mean it’s a healthy relationship, she warns.

She also learned to “always strive for improvement and not perfection,” because you’re going to make mistakes. The question is how are you going to learn from them.

Fortunately, she learned to keep in mind that “tomorrow is a brand new day,” and you don’t have to do everything in one day—“you can leave some things for tomorrow.”

Knowing her ‘why’ One of the things that fuels Alicia as a pet-sitting business owner is knowing that her business is “redefining what personal pet care means.” They work hard to set the standard for clients, offering an all-inclusive, intimate petcare experience.

Alicia says a lot of services are becoming very commercialized, but people still like intimate, personal care. Her business achieves that personal touch in various ways. For her daycare, they strive to have an exclusive environment, staying focused not on the quantity of pets but the quality of care given. For her in-home services, they offer many complimentary customization options such as watering plants, bringing in the mail, and opening or closing blinds.

“To have the personal touch, you have to be personal,” Alicia says, “and that means knowing people by their first name, knowing their pets in detail, knowing what’s important to them, so you tend to those needs and nurture those needs through their pet care.”

TIP FOR SUCCESS: Alicia tells pet sitters to “know your ‘why’”—know why you’re doing what you’re doing and stick to it, because “you can achieve the vision that is within you.” Be consistent every single day, she says, even when you are not getting immediate results.

In the pet-sitting industry, pet sitters are always giving a lot of themselves emotionally to their clients, Alicia notes, but it can get to be too much sometimes. As natural peoplepleasers—with their compassionate natures—they want to make everyone happy, but Alicia says do that too much and you can feel lost and lose passion or lose sight of your long-term goals.

“So always staying focused on the dream and the vision is important to achieve long-term success,” Alicia says.

For Alicia, that dream was a career in pet care, and pursuing it is the best decision she’s ever made.

“All money is not good money,” Alicia says.

“My belief now, and from my experience, is until you take the risk, you don’t know what’s on the other side,” she shares.

As a new business owner, she received some great advice—“to know my worth, to reflect my worth and my business standards, and to not let anyone tell me my worth.”

And what did you she find on the other side?

“A new life.” 

26 www.petsit.com

Now Available Online!

Visit petsit.com/online-pet-first-aid-course to sign up.

You know you wouldn’t steal from your clients, but being bonded can give them extra peace of mind and boost your business.

Contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas to learn how you can obtain a dishonesty bond for only $50/year. www.psi-ins.com PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 27

Pet First Aid & Safety

Pet Fire Safety: Preventing By ByDenise DeniseFleck, Fleck,The ThePet PetSafety SafetyCrusader™ Crusader™

After hearing about pet oxygen masks during one of my Pet First Aid classes almost 13 years ago, Debra Jo Chiapuzio learned everything she could about these animal life-saving devices and has since donated more than 3,500 pet oxygen kits to first responders through her Emma Zen Foundation (EZF). Every summer, EZF sets up a booth at the fairgrounds in Orange County, California, to create awareness around pet safety.

Additionally, know that unsupervised candles or fire in the fireplace can also spell trouble. Use flameless candles in case kitty’s tail knocks one over. Place covers over stove knobs in case a pet jumps up, turn pan handles inward so that pets or people don’t knock into them and keep counter tops tidy as pets often push clutter closer to the flames—pizza boxes, homework, newspapers, paper towels should not be near stove tops!

At one event, a lady approached the table, looking emotional, so Chiapuzio asked how she could help. The woman replied, “You donated pet oxygen masks to our county’s firefighters, and I came here today to find you and thank you. Our dog jumped up, turning the stove knob, and a towel laying on top set the place ablaze!

We lost it all! It’s all gone. We lost it all, but we have our animals!”

Thankfully, both the family’s dog and cat were rescued during this horrible accident; however, the dog needed to stay at the vet hospital for several days while the humans lived in a friend’s spare bedroom. The woman told Chiapuzio that she no longer recognized her life, but again said, “We lost it all, but we have everything! We have our animals. Thank you for providing pet oxygen masks to our local fire department.”

Prevent Fire Altogether Since pets start more than 1,000 fires annually, preventing fires from happening is the best place to start.

Chiapuzio says that more than one firefighter has shared with her that “50 percent of home fires start in the kitchen.” To prevent pets from being hurt or starting fires, she suggests you stand by your pan and not wander off to the computer or elsewhere while dinner is on the stove.

Stay in the kitchen and supervise!

The question firefighters most often ask her is, “What are pets doing in the kitchen?” In her household, Chiapuzio long ago established the NO KITCHEN RULE! “I know pets love food, so I worked hard with my zoo tossing treats for ‘good sits’ in the dining room. We now have a line-up of well-behaved animals out of harm’s way!”

It is important to know that Debra Jo and her husband share their hearts and their home with a dog, a mini-pig, cat, bunny, multiple African Grey Parrots, a tortoise, and chickens, so when she says “a line-up of well-behaved animals,” she means it!

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Also, keep in mind that some pets chew on wires which can then short circuit lamps and other electronics turning them into fire hazards. Secure wires and keep all dangers out of paw’s and claw’s reach.

Prepare for the Worst Make an emergency plan that includes your pet. Everyone who is old enough to be home alone needs to know how to evacuate all animals, along with grabbing emergency supplies. Assigning roles is a good idea in the event everyone is home when the worst happens.

• Pets need to go through drills: getting in harnesses or crates, going out a potentially different door than usual and proceeding to a safe location. If you have a multi-story home, it is possible the only escape will be out a window, so that too is something everyone (twolegged and four-pawed) must practice in advance.

• Know where pets like to hide and how to retrieve them quickly and safely.

Pets from Causing Fires toms can include breathing difficulty, coughing, irritated eyes, salivation or vomiting, seizures and collapse.

Move pet to a well-ventilated area and do not return to the house or contaminated room until it is completely aired out.

Begin rescue breathing if needed by holding pet’s mouth closed and breathing into the nostrils every 3 seconds; smaller, quicker puff breaths for puppies and kittens.

Check for a pulse after the first two breaths, and if there is no pulse, begin CPR and get to immediate veterinary help.

• Confine pets in rooms where they are easy to spot when left home alone, and make sure collars are on and leashes are near the door in case a rescue is necessary.

• Be sure mischievous, as well as young, pups are confined in crates or behind a baby gate so that they cannot start a fire when you are away.

• Install smoke detectors connected to an emergency response service, so that if a fire starts, help will be signaled and dispatched.

“My personal emergency plan includes dog training (sit, stay and come can save your pet’s life),” says Chiapuzio.

A good recall is vital, and it’s important to have a Pet Alert Sticker visible.

Make a Quick Escape Once you have a plan in place, all you need to do is to calmly round-up the troops and keep everyone together.

“Every firefighter will tell you not to rush back in to save your pet! It is one of the hardest things for a pet lover to hear,” says Chiapuzio. “There are many true stories of humans dying when someone goes back in to save Fido.

While I completely understand this inclination, I have to put my faith in sticking to the plan.” Once responders arrive, tell them your pet is still inside.

Should the Worst Happen Whenever an animal breathes smoke, assume his airways are inflamed and get him to medical care. Signs and symp-

Both second- and third-degree burns are highly susceptible to infection since many layers of tissue have been destroyed. Intravenous fluids, antibiotics and hospitalization may be needed. Heat inflicted burns are sterile, so take care not to contaminate by using non-sterile materials.

Second-degree burns present as pink to red skin with blisters while in third-degree burns, the surface of the skin will appear charred, white, or even leathery. An unpleasant comparison but think charred burger or white boiled chicken breast!

Get to the veterinarian but call ahead, and…

• Calmly check respiration, pulse, and treat for signs of shock. Safely muzzle pet if he is not exhibiting breathing difficulties as he may be in great pain and you do not want to get bitten.

• Flush gently with or immerse burned areas in cool (NOT ice) water while checking with vet for further instructions.

Burns can continue to cause damage even after the initial source of the burn has been removed. The flow of cool water reduces temperature below the skin surface to help prevent further damage, but it must be done slowly to prevent hypothermia, frostbite, additional nerve damage or shock.

• Pat dry with a soft cloth (not cotton balls which leave fibers) and bandage loosely (or wrap in a clean sheet but use non-stick pad closest to burn if possible) to prevent debris from entering damaged tissue. Do NOT apply ointments or sprays.

More than half a million pets are affected by house fires every year, resulting in smoke inhalation, severe burns, and death, so there is no time like the present to educate clients and prepare yourself so that everyone can get out of the house safely.  PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 29

30 www.petsit.com

Member Idea Spotlight: Local Heroes Appreciation Program Nicole Browne-Brunson, owner of Nicole’s Pet Care LLC in Sumter, South Carolina, implemented an incentive program to show her company’s appreciation for their local heroes, including active or retired military, first responders and educators in her service area.

Pet parents working in these areas receive a 10 percent discount on all pet-care services.

PROTECTION AGAINST LIABILITY. PROTECTION

Nicole with daughter Milania

AGAINST DISHONESTY.

Nicole prominently displays her “Local Heroes Appreciation Program” details on her business website (on the homepage), and also promotes it on her company’s Facebook page.

Nicole shared that the reason she started this discount program is because she’s always had a huge appreciation for the military, teachers, first responders and healthcare professionals—and has personal experience in both the military and education fields. Her dad retired from the U.S. Army, and she also joined the Army after high school. After her military service and pursuing a variety of other jobs, Nicole was inspired by her mother (who she said was an amazing preschool teacher) to earn her bachelor’s degree in early childhood development.

Nicole says that she’s been amazed at how quickly teachers have had to adapt during the pandemic, and how first responders and medical professionals have had to sacrifice so much to take care of patients.

“I think the past year has really shown us—perhaps even more than before—how vital a role all of these local heroes are to our community; and I really want to extend my appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication and hard work by implementing this program as a way to truly say thank you so much!” she explained.

—Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI 

Contact Us: www.binks.ca g.binks@binks.ca (877) 302-4657

Binks is proud to be the exclusive Insurance Broker for the Canadian Members of Pet Sitters International.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 31

Insurance Issues

By David Pearsall, Business Insurers of the Carolinas

Understanding the Claims Process

“I think I may have a claim, what should I do?”

“My employee (or IC) just got bit, is this covered?”

“When will I hear from the adjuster?”

“What information do you need?”

“Will my rates go up or will I be cancelled if I turn this in?”

We receive questions regarding claims and potential claims on a daily basis in our office. Although I have written on this subject in the past, I want to give members a better understanding on what to do when a claim occurs and how claims are administered for the various insurance coverages available to PSI members.

32 www.petsit.com

Below is an outline based on the different types of claims.

If you are uncertain of what type of claim you may have, please contact our office immediately at 1-800-962-4611, and we will assist you.

No one ever wants to suffer a claim, but they do occur, and when they do we want to work towards the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

What to do in the event of a General Liability claim: 1. If a person or pet in your care is injured, please seek immediate medical attention for the injured person(s)/ pet(s). If client’s property is damaged, take photos of damaged property. Do what is necessary to prevent any further damage to property.

2. Secure names, phone numbers, and addresses of all injured persons, other parties involved, and all witnesses to the accident.

3. Contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas at 1-800962-4611 to report the claim. It is especially important that you turn a claim in the day it occurs and do not wait a week or month to do so.

4. Keep all information/photos/receipts, etc. together to have available to provide to the claims adjuster upon request.

5. Never discuss your claim with outside parties or on the internet or social media while claim is open/ongoing.

What to do in the event of Bond claim: 1. As soon as you have been made aware there has been a theft, contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas at 1-800-962-4611 to turn the claim in.

2. Document all phone conversations/letters/emails received from your client alleging theft of money or personal property.

What to do in the event of a Workers’ Compensation claim: 1. Always seek immediate medical attention for the injured person. If injuries are minor or non-life threatening, utilize a medical clinic (preferably a clinic that specializes in treating occupational injuries). If injuries are life threatening or more severe, call for ambulance and/or go to emergency room.

2. Identify witnesses to the accident and obtain names, phone numbers and addresses.

3. Contact your insurance company directly to turn in the claim. Once again, it is best to turn your claim in the same day the incident occurs, and most all companies have a 24-hour claims reporting line to do so. Provide the company with your policy number; name of employee(s) injured; type of injury; when, where and how it occurred; and any witnesses to the incident.

4. Contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas at 1-800962-4611 to inform us of the claim so that we can monitor it on your behalf.

5. Never discuss your claim with outside parties or on the internet or social media while the claim is open/ongoing.

The sooner you turn the claim in, the better, and the sooner we can get your results. Historically, the numbers have shown that claims turned in within the first 24 hours have much better results than those turned in after that time period. Once we hear from you, our staff will answer your questions and advise you as to whether or not it is worth turning in to the insurance company. In most cases we will proceed in turning in the claim to the insurance company.

The insurance company adjuster(s) will then make the final determination of coverage, based on all the facts/details that are presented.

3. Document statements from employee(s) or independent contractor(s) and verify dates/times they were present at the client’s home to determine if they acknowledge the theft or if they feel they are wrongfully accused.

Once the adjuster receives the claim, you will be contacted directly within 48 hours. It is important to note that adjusters have many, many claims to handle at one time, and even though you may feel yours is the only one that matters, the adjuster must prioritize and assist in the order they receive.

4. Never discuss an open claim with others or via the internet or social media.

Depending on the type, severity and nature of claim, the adjuster will need to obtain additional facts/information

(continued) PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 33

from you and the claimant in order to expedite payment.

For example, if an injury occurs to a pet in your care, the adjuster will want to obtain all vet contact information and all bills related to the injury, or if it is a workers’ comp claim, the adjuster may request payroll records on the injured employee in order to pay lost wages.

Regardless of the type of claim or what type of information or documentation is needed, it is important to be aware that effective communication is crucial at all stages of the claim process! To ensure the very best outcome for your claim, always gather the necessary information requested by the adjuster and present it in a timely fashion. Failure to do so will only delay your claim from being paid.

Will a Claim Impact Your Premium?

Now let’s discuss the question everyone wants to know, “What effect will this claim have on my premium?” Insurance companies utilize a number of factors when determining premium increases or cancellations/non-renewals.

Typically, they review all of the following factors before increasing premiums or non-renewing coverage: • number of years insured • total premium paid in • total number of claims turned in (frequency) • total amount of claims paid out (severity) Most insurance companies will review loss ratios (claims paid over premium paid in) to determine profitability on an individual basis and on an overall basis for a specific line of business. For example, if you were insured for five years and paid an annual premium of $1,000, your total premium paid in is $5,000. If you had one claim in that time period for $5,000, you would have a 100% loss ratio, meaning the insurance company paid out 100% of premium paid in.

Now consider if you had four claims of $10,000, ($40,000 total paid out) or one claim of $250,000. This would result in loss ratios of 400% ($20,000/$5,000) and 5,000% ($250,000/$5,000).

Needless to say, an insurance company would not survive very long if all their clients had loss ratios like these. However, just because you have one claim for $250,000 does not make you a bad risk, as this may be the only loss you ever incur.

Most insurers would rather see one large loss as opposed to frequent losses. Under the PSI Liability program, every effort is made to give each individual client the benefit of the doubt, and therefore all individual characteristics of

34 www.petsit.com

each client are taken into consideration before cancelling a policy or raising premiums. If you should have any questions regarding potential claims or your individual claims experience, please contact BIC to discuss.

Recent General Liability Claims: • While playing in the park, a dog ran into a bench and hurt its leg. Total Paid $709.

• A dog became ill while staying with the pet sitter and was taken to the vet for treatment and passed away. Total Paid $1,545.

• A dog got into the pantry, knocking over a tin with treats. The dog ingested all the treats and required medical attention. Total Paid $486.

• A pet sitter was walking up a set of stairs with a dog in an apartment complex when the dog bit a passerby on the hand. Total Paid $5,635.

• A dog was staying in the pet sitter’s home and ate a sock that caused a blockage that had to be surgically removed. Total Paid $6,333.

• A pet sitter leaned over a client’s patio table and broke it. Total Paid $3,549.

• While being walked, a dog was startled by a loud noise and jumped. When the dog landed, he yelped from injury suffered to the leg.

Total Paid $5,162.

• A sitter’s car was broken into and 20 client keys were stolen. Total Paid $2,161.

• A dog went outside for a potty break. The dog chewed through the fence and escaped. The dog was not found for three days. Total Paid $3,534.

• During a dog walk the dog in a pet sitter’s care bit a pedestrian on the arm. Total Paid $21,502.

Recent Workers’ Compensation Claims: • A sitter entered a chicken coop to provide food and fresh water. The rooster attacked the pet sitter scratching and pecking her legs. Total Paid $249.

• While petting a cat, the pet sitter was bitten three times on the arm. Total Paid $218.

• While on a walk, a dog attempted to chase a squirrel causing the pet sitter to fall and injure hand. Total Paid $6,473.

• An employee was walking two dogs and the dogs pulled the employee down casing injury to face, head abrasion and fracture to her eye socket.

Total Paid Medical and Indemnity $47,495. 

PETS ARE PRICELESS... but veterinary bills can add up quickly if an accident occurs.

Make sure you have the Care, Custody or Control limits needed to cover any claims your pet-sitting business may face.

Contact Business Insurers for a FREE review of your coverage limits: PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 35 (800) 962-4611 • www.psi-ins.com

Values

Enhancing Your Online Presence with EAT How optimizing your EAT can help your business

By Amy Toman, Pet Sitter SEO

You’re a professional. You’ve taken training, had your background checked, received your Pet First Aid and CPR certificates, and your business is licensed (if required) and insured. What does this make you? A good business owner, and a good pet sitter! It also makes you better than the kid next door, or the on-demand pet sitter who just shows up at the door with nothing but a love of pets.

But how do you get the word out? How do you make sure you’re getting “credit” for all the work you’ve done?

Enhancing your EAT Recently, the search engines have begun addressing this issue and have started looking at credentials. They use these to create online profiles that form a fuller picture of people and businesses. They look at biographies, and online references, and anything else that’s available to get a fuller picture of a business and its staff. So, if you write about dog training, what training do you show you’ve had?

And where did you study? And is that place legitimate?

How do you prove it’s legit?

This collection of your credentials is now referred to as your Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness (EAT). By displaying and enhancing this, you provide a good basis for the search engines to understand you and your business and learn for which services to recommend you.

Optimizing your biography The best way to tell the world that you’re qualified to work as a pet care pro is to optimize your biography on your About page. Many pet sitters have bios that have information about their first dog, or how their love of cats led to their finding their spouse. Those are nice, but they don’t help users analyze your qualifications. To most clearly lay out who you are and why you are a professional, you need to lay out your EAT in a simple format.

What works best is a page that may reference the business, but primarily highlights the owner, even if you’re not actively providing pet care. That’s because you’re the one who writes all the blogs and has “business owner” listed everywhere from your LinkedIn to your Facebook page.

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Our Clients

Management Team History

Expertise

Who We Are Mission

Vision

Services Experience

Milestones

Achievements

Locations

Because you have the title, you need to optimize for your credentials.

And when I say that the About page should reference the business owner, I mean that if you have staff, I would place their bios on a separate page.

When laying out the owner’s biography, you want to highlight two types of connections—industry and local:

• Industry: your education, training, and certifications that apply to pet care.

• Local: your work with local rescues, local animal

advocacy groups, the chamber of commerce, and any other local connections that will be recognized by local residents in your service areas. If you attended college locally, that’s a great addition as well.

Start out with a clear photo of you with a pet; it should be clear, and the pet shouldn’t be moving. Then add a paragraph or two on when you first started working with pets.

This can be on the fluffy side, with a little personal information on what you like and why the work suits you. Then proceed to the details that cover your education, training, and connections.

Lay out your references in a clear, easy-to-read format. I prefer a bullet point list, like this:

• Pet Sitters International, Member, 2015 - Current • Pet First Aid Co., Pet CPR / First Aid Certification, 2019

• Background Check Company Background Check, 2015 - Current

• Dog Training School, XXX Training workshop, 2015 • PSI Conference, 2020, 2019, 2018 • Pet Sitters International, Certified Professional Pet Sitter, 2019

• Local Rescue, Volunteer, 2014 - 2017 • Local Chamber of Commerce, Member, 2015 - Current

• Ducky Race to Benefit Local Shelter, Sponsor, 2019 • Local University, BA, Animal Husbandry, 2010 Each reference is laid out with the name of the organization, the certification received, then the year received. The bolded items above should have a link to the organization.

By laying this information out in a format that resembles a resume or your LinkedIn page, you provide a way for both potential clients and the search engines to learn more about you and the groups you’ve worked with or schools you’ve attended. You’re portraying yourself as a professional who’s proud of their achievements.

In addition to the type of information seen in the example above, if you’re a solo business owner and need a few more links, I would also consider adding the name of your insurance company. Some have specific pages that reference pet sitter insurance, and I know Business Insurers of the Carolinas has a nice page that would be a good example for potential clients to view:

pages. While your content may be helpful to pet owners, do they understand who the author is, and how your background and training informs your writing? To better lay that out, you need to optimize the author information on every blog post.

Blogging helps readers gather a more complete picture of a business and its areas of specialization. If most of your blogs are about dogs, the assumption by readers and by the search engines is that you specialize in working with dogs. But are you qualified to do so? What about your background makes you more qualified than anyone else?

That’s where your author optimization comes in.

The first step is to “claim” authorship. But if it’s your business, and your blog, what is there to claim? While this may seem obvious, I’ve seen many pet-sitting businesses have blogs that say the author of their blogs is the company. So, if I’m looking at Pam’s Pet Sitting and I look at a blog, the author is Pam’s Pet Sitting. That’s where you need to claim ownership; you need to place a human’s name as the author on each blog article.

Blogs are authored by humans, so I recommend all blogs be credited to the business owner. That person should be the one with the most robust biography, so they should be credited for the blogs. Each post should have the business owner’s name at the top, and then at the bottom in an “author box” with a short bio, like this:

In a perfect world, that text would end with a link to my bio page (on the same website).

So that’s a good setup for a solo or the primary business owner. Does it help to feature profiles for staff members?

Yes. On the staff page I would have a paragraph at the top of the page that discusses (and links out to) training that applies to the entire company, like Pet First Aid and CPR, Fear Free training, and background checks. Then add personal links for each sitter, again highlighting industry and local connections.

All of these efforts work together to portray you, your company, and your sitters as professional and knowledgeable. It also helps the search engines to create or enhance their understanding of you and your business.

Optimizing your blog authorship Another way to enhance your EAT is to optimize your blog

By appearing as the author of all or most blogs on a website, the owner enhances their credibility, and their EAT. Their website contributions, as well as their off-site references from LinkedIn and other platforms, serve to create a full portrait of them to the search engines. As you write more, get more credentials, and display them on your website, you should start to see a nice rankings boost.

By stepping up and giving yourself credit for your achievements—and by taking credit for the content on your website—you are not only enhancing your professional reputation, but you are helping advance your business’s visibility on the internet. Because Google and the search engines are now specifically looking for a business’ and a site owner’s credentials, you can’t lose by putting as much out there as possible.  PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 37

PROFESSIONAL PET SITTER’S TO-DO LIST Consider putting these activities on your company’s to-do list for April, May and June.

April 5-9

The first quarter of 2021 has ended! Block off at least an hour on your calendar this week to review your progress toward your goals, and visit petsit.com/monthlytoolkit to access your monthly member resources.

April 12-16

Tax Day is this week for our U.S. members. It’s a great time to review how the tax-filing process went for you this year and determine whether it’s time to hire a bookkeeper or use new

software, and to brush up on the latest deductions you can take.

April 19-23

petsit.com/safety for tips for safe pet sitting (and share the link in your staff newsletter, if you have one).

It’s Pet First Aid Awareness Month! Make sure you (and any employees) have pet first aid kits in your vehicles, and visit petsit.com/ online-pet-first-aid-course to learn more about PSI’s Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals course.

May 17-21

April 26-30

PSI’s annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® to support pet adoption is next month.

Reach out to local companies to see if there’s a way to partner (e.g. offer a free lunch-and-learn to talk about the importance of quality pet care and pet adoption). Visit petsit.com/ toolkit for ideas.

May is almost here, so set aside time this week to visit PSI’s private Facebook group to download free social-media images for pet observances.

May 3-7

Nominations are open for PSI’s Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year Award as well as PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award. Visit petsit.com/member-campaigns-programs to learn more and nominate yourself.

May 10-14

It’s PSI’s annual Pet Sitter Safety Month™, so visit

Summer vacation season is almost here. Set aside some time to “tidy up” your business, such as organizing files and reviewing your website and social media pages for any needed updates.

May 24-28

May 31-June 4

Have you downloaded PSI’s free social-media images for June pet-related holidays and observances?

Also be sure to check out the resources in your June monthly member toolkit.

June 7-11

It’s National Pet Preparedness Month, so review your company’s disaster plan this week and make sure that all clients have a copy and that the emergency contacts you have on file for them are up to date.

June 14-18

Have you been following your self-care plan this year? Review your weekly schedule to see if you have enough self-care activities built in!

June 21-25

Do you have the right supplies for a summer of pet sitting and dog walking?

Check your walking shoes to make sure they’re still in good condition, and don’t forget to stay hydrated and take precautions to beat the heat.

June 28-July 2

After you download your free social-media images from PSI for July, review the latest social-media best practices online to see if there are any changes you would like to make for the second half of 2021.

CAN POTENTIAL CLIENTS FIND YOU ON PSI’S PET SITTER LOCATOR?

Enter your ZIP/Postal code at petsit.com/locate to verify you are listed.

38 www.petsit.com

Go down in pet-sitting history…

Nominations are now open for PSI’s 2022 Pet Sitter of the Year™ award.

Visit petsit.com/pet-sitter-of-the-year for the nomination form.

What will the 2022 Pet Sitter of the Year receive? ● $500 cash prize ● One-year free PSI membership ● International recognition via news releases, social media and promotion on petsit.com ● PSY logo to use on your website and other marketing materials ● An expenses-paid trip to PSI’s 2022 conference (includes registration, travel and hotel accommodations) ● Recognition at the PSY crowning at the 2022 conference ● Waived testing fee for PSI’s CPPS® Exam, if not already certified Note: This award is open to all PSI members of at least three years regardless of location or business size.

+ You’ll join this list of the best of the best in the professional pet-sitting industry: ● 2021 — Daniel Reitman, Dan’s Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, Port Washington, New York

● 2014 — Michelle Miller, CPPS, At Home Comforts Pet Sitting, Panama City, Fla.

● 2020 — Jeanne Crockett, CPPS, Crockett’s Critter Care, New Bern, N.C.

● 2013 — Sari Reis, CPPS, Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services, San Diego, Calif.

● 2019 — Liz Hyde, CPPS, Pet Charmers, LLC, Gastonia, N.C.

● 2012 — Vanessa Sorace, CPPS, Zoo Sitters LLC, Cape May Court House, N.J.

● 2018 — Cathy Vaughan, CPPS, Cathy's Critter Care, Schertz, Texas ● 2016 — Carrie Feinberg, CPPS, Safe Haven Advocate Pet Care, LLC, Elgin, Ill. ● 2015 — Gerry Arner, CPPS, Pet 'n Nanny LLC, Wake Forest, N.C.

● 2008 — Rob Nager, Decadent Dog Inc., Needham, Mass. ● 2007 — Jen Miler, Doggone Purrfect Pet Care, St. Petersburg, Fla. ● 2006 — Darlene Ehlers, Pampered Pets Home Care, Blue Jay, Ohio

● 2001 — Mark Gleckman, A Helping Hand, Acton, Calif. ● 2000 — Pat Love, Pets Are People Too! Hephzibah, Ga. ● 1999 — Heidi Kistler, The Pawsitively Pampered Pet, Berkeley, Calif.

● 1998 — Susan Baker, Pet’s Best Friend, Rocky ● 2005 — Tammy Iseri, The Pet Sitter, Elk Grove, Calif. Mount, N.C. ● 1997 — Sharon & Helene ● 2011 — Jordan Di Marco, ● 2004 — Holly Cook, Jones, Sisters Sitting CPPS, Dogma Catma Pet Special Pet Care Services, Service, Ft. Lauderdale, Sitting, Boulder, Colo.

Marysville, Mich.

Fla. ● 2010 — Scott Black, ● 2003 — Dawn Secord, ● 1996 — Melanie Hocever, Personal Touch Pet Sitting, Fur, Feathers and Fins There’s No Place Like Kingwood, Texas LLC, Chino Hills, Calif.

Home, Phoenix, Ariz. ● 2009 — Cara Armour, Active Paws, Watertown, Mass.

● 2002 — Rosary Bovello, Gaithersburg Pet Sitting Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.

● 1995 — Carol Proffitt, Paw Prints Pet Care, Knoxville, Tenn.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 39

How to Write Blog Posts that Readers and Search Engines Love

By Erika Godwin, Barketing Solutions

Blogging has evolved significantly over the past few years. You may think of blogging as a way to journal your experiences, make announcements or write whatever is on your mind. However, blogging has now evolved into an important piece of content marketing strategies. A strategic blogging strategy can help you position yourself as a thought leader, generate more traffic to your website, and grow your local SEO presence.

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With pet owners using search engines to answer their pet-related questions and concerns, this presents an opportunity to position yourself as a trusted leader in your community. Consistently publishing high-quality content on your website should be prioritized in 2021.

most importantly, naturally throughout your post.

How to find the Right Topic(s) Before you start writing your blog, do research. You want to avoid focusing on a general term that is highly competitive in the search engines. Instead, focus on long-tail and locally focused keywords. These keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases. While these terms may have a lower search volume, they are also less competitive. Also, the traffic you receive from long-tail keywords is more qualified; therefore, you will likely receive higher quality and more local traffic.

• Use keyword in the Title Tag and Meta Description.

• Add the keyword to the concluding paragraph and

• Review high-performing and high-potential keywords

• Image file names and ALT text should contain the main

using a tool like SEMRush or Wordstream's Free Keyword Tool.

• For local blogs, add your location to a general keyword to make a long-tail keyword to attract local traffic. Ex: Best Dog Parks in {Your City} or Best Places to Walk Your Dog in {Your City}.

• Review older blogs and update/refresh any

underperforming blogs by following a modern SEO optimization strategy.

How to Format Your Blog Post It is crucial that blogs are easy-to-read and optimized for SEO. This means that your blog must be written for your audience first, then search engines second. If your readers don't like your content—then neither will search engines.

• Choose an eye-catching title that uses your primary keyword.

• Use small sentences and short paragraphs.

• Content should be at least 300-500 words.

• Use headers to separate paragraphs to build a good structure.

• Keep difficult words to a minimum.

• Use transition words to help improve readability.

• Use related images and video. For local posts, take your own high-quality photos.

How to Optimize your Blog for Search Engines Now that you have your primary keyword phrase, it is essential that these keywords are used strategically and,

• Add keyword phrase to the first sentence of the opening paragraph.

• Add keyword to the blog's title (H1) and at least one subheading (H2 and H3).

naturally throughout the post.

• Use internal hyperlinks to lead readers to your related pages, blogs and offerings.

• Use external links to associate your content with

high-authority third party websites. External links help improve the credibility and context of your article.

• Resize and compress images before uploading. keyword phrase.

• Although more advanced, adding Schema markup is also beneficial.

How to Get Your Content Noticed Now that your blog is optimized, you must actively get it in front of your audience. If you publish a blog and do nothing to promote it, your chances of ranking in the search engines are low. You must prove to the search engines that your content is worthy by generating your own traffic.

• Share your post on social media business pages and personal pages.

• Encourage sharing to get more eyes on your blog.

• Add a teaser to your newsletter or email marketing campaigns that link to the full post.

• If you mention another local business, ask them to share with their audience.

• Don't just share once! Recycle your blog for future use.

• Repurpose content by creating a teaser video or

create social media posts with intriguing snippets to encourage clicks.

Blogging without a strategy is a waste of time. You must have a plan and execute it. It would be best to start with research, selection of the right topic, user-friendly formatting, SEO optimization and a strategy to drive traffic to your new content. A strategic local blogging strategy can help you increase traffic and build trust in your company. A good blog strategy increased your chances of visitors inquiring about your services.  PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 41

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PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 43

3 Painful Consequences of Minimum Payments

By Julie Johnson, HowMoneyWorks Educator

Editor’s Note: Since the pandemic began, members have submitted more financial questions than ever before. So, we are working with financial educator Julie Johnson to share practice financial tips this year.

Consequence #1: You end up paying mostly interest forever. OK, maybe not forever, but it will feel like it. By making only the minimum payments over a long period of time, you’re basically giving the credit card company free money—your money. You’re not even paying down the principal for the item you originally purchased with your credit card. You’re basically paying a subscription to the credit card company for holding your debt—a monthly service for which you get nothing.

Do you send in more than the minimum payments on your credit cards each month? (The correct answer is “yes.”)

Here’s an all-too-common example: Let’s say that an unexpected expense tightens your budget. As it stands, you owe $10,000 in credit card debt at a 20% interest rate with a minimum payment of 2%. In order to cover the basics like housing, food, and medicine, you drop your credit card payments to the minimum amount of $200 monthly.

If you are making more than the minimum payments now—you’re thinking like the wealthy!

In this scenario, it will likely take more than 30 years and interest payments of over $35,000 to fully eliminate your credit card debt. The credit card company becomes richer, and your financial future is squandered.

A minimum payment is the lowest amount you can pay on your credit card bill without suffering a late payment penalty. We all know making minimum payments may be necessary for a short period if you’re freeing up cash flow to pay down a bigger, more urgent bill.

However, paying just the minimum for the long haul can lead to longterm negative consequences.

Consequence #2: You can hurt your credit score. When you hold high debt on a credit card for a long period, even if you’re making minimum payments on time, your credit utilization ratio (or the percentage of available credit you’re using) can rise. If it remains above 30% of your credit card limit for long, your credit can take a substantial hit¹—hurting your ability to borrow for a car, education, or home mortgage—and hinder qualifying for lower interest rates on those loans. This all equals financial limitations for your future—less cash flow, higher interest payments, less money to save for the future.

Just like any time you have to deal with challenges in life, considering long-term consequences is vital to success. It can wake you up from thinking and acting like a sucker with your money. It can give you the laser focus needed to pay off debts so you can start building wealth. What’s at stake? You know, just your future.

So, what are those looming, longterm consequences of making only the minimum payments on your credit cards?

Consequence #3: You never start saving. Today, the responsibility to save and build wealth falls on the consumer—that’s you! Your 401(k) and Social Security check may fall dramatically short of providing the income you need for the lifestyle you want during retirement. The earlier you start saving, the better chance you have of closing the gap on the money you need for the future. Paying minimum payments on your credit cards is a dangerous habit that can prevent you from saving enough.

You don’t have to fall victim to these consequences. You can create a strategy to knock out your credit card debt by paying more than the minimums. How much more? As much as possible—until your credit card debt is gone. That big sigh of relief and your new ability to save will be well worth it!

An important caveat: Paying the minimum on a credit card while you build an emergency fund or pay down another debt can be advantageous, as long as you’re working with a licensed and qualified financial professional to reduce debt methodically.  ' "What is a Credit Utilization Rate?," Experian.

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PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 45

Are you taking advantage of your PSI Monthly Member Toolkit?

Each month you receive your Monthly Member Toolkit, which includes: • Your Monthly Scoop email with trending articles you can share with clients • A featured online article with bonus resource/special offer just for members • A featured member resource—often a pet-sitter form template, client handout or webinar • A monthly Facebook Live in PSI’s private, members-only Facebook group Resources are emailed to you each Monday at the email address associated with your membership.

If you are not receiving PSI’s weekly emails, please contact PSI Member Services at info@petsit.com.

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PRO TIPS

Simple Ideas to Boost Business and Improve Your Pet-Care Service

Business Practices

STUDY YOURSELF

As a pet-sitting business owner, you probably have some big projects in mind or goals you would like to accomplish, but they may seem overwhelming. So how do you proceed?

Safety

PREPARE FOR SAFE VISITS

Preparation for a safe pet-sitting visit begins prior to accepting an assignment. While at the initial consultation, do a walkthrough so you can become familiar with the home and where clients keep their pet supplies—and notice any potential dangers to alert the pet owners to, like broken locks, holes in fences, etc.

If your first visit will be at night, ask the client to leave inside and outside lights on so you will not enter a dark home. If you are performing multiple visits for a client each day, leave an outside light on and alternate lights inside the home prior to your evening visit.

Always ask clients if anyone else has access to the home and be sure to note this in the service agreement. Many pet sitters opt not to accept clients when others will have access to the home (be sure to have a written policy that you share with clients).

Other pet sitters have clients that have other service providers (housekeeper, groundskeeper, etc.) visit the home, but ask that clients provide information on each of these providers, including what time they typically arrive, what type of vehicle they drive, etc.

Always remember to follow your gut. If you feel uneasy at the initial consultation or that this isn’t the right pet-sitting assignment for you, you do not have to accept it.

In his book “Start,” author and speaker Jon Acuff shares a tip: “Be a student of you.” Think about how you’ve accomplished things in the past. He writes: “You’ve succeeded at something. Something came naturally. Something worked. How can you apply that to this?”

If you were able to stick to something before, “how did you do it,” he asks. If you’ve had a past success, “what are the things you can learn from that experience? What skills came out shining?” Your best approach to achieving a goal might not be the same as someone with a different skillset or personality. So while the stages to success may be the same for everyone, “the method you use to travel from one destination to the next will be determined by your own experience—what you’re made of, what you desire, and what you’ve done to this point,” Acuff says.

Service Ideas

OFFER A MEMBERSHIP

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many pet sitters and dog walkers to consider new services they could provide to bring in additional revenue, and one such option is offering a subscription or membership for pet parents.

Morgan Andenas Weber, owner of Lucky Pup Adventures in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said she started offering a membership group for pet parents (in addition to adding treats and grief support/memorial candles). “We have monthly themes and topics and I share my expertise, and members are charged a monthly fee,” Weber shares.

“It’s easy to put yourself last, but don’t make this mistake. Of course, you are busy, but make time for your annual checkup, eat healthy, get enough sleep and exercise. Being the best ‘you’ you can be not only contributes to your own well-being—it also makes you a better pet sitter!”

-PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston, The Professional Pet Sitter’s Startup Guide

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 47

Keeping your business financial records in order

By Meghann Evans, PSI Marketing & Communications Coordinator

As a professional pet sitting business owner, you juggle a lot of responsibilities, and while paperwork, bookkeeping and taxes may not be the highlights of your job, they are critical components of a legitimate, successful business.

We reached out to Becky Eberly, MBA, CPB, owner of BlueStone Business Solutions, to provide some tips to help you keep your financial records in order.

Q&A with Becky Eberly What important records should pet sitters and dog walkers be keeping throughout the year to be prepared for tax time?

Pet sitters and dog walkers need to keep track of their business-related Expenses throughout the year, as well as their Revenue, any Assets they purchase, and Liabilities they incur. Business-related expenses would include things like payments to contractors or employees who help care for pets, advertising, job supplies, and liability insurance. For revenue: Business owners need to capture their gross revenue, i.e. the money earned before credit card processing fees are withheld. If you use a payment processor like Stripe, they will withhold their fees before sending you a net deposit amount. You need to document your gross revenue as well as the credit card processing fees you paid to Stripe (expense). For Assets and Liabilities: If you purchase any office or grooming equipment for (generally) over $2,500, you should track 48 www.petsit.com

this as a business Asset and depreciate the value of the asset over its useful life. And keep track of all business loan documents and payments, including principal and interest breakdowns.

What should pet sitters keep in mind if they’ve received some type of economic relief due to the pandemic (e.g. PPP Loans, EIDL Loans, unemployment)?

If you received a PPP Loan, be sure to complete the forgiveness application as soon as you can so your loan can be evaluated for forgiveness. If forgiven, the loan proceeds you received will be categorized as Income, but this income is non-taxable. EIDL Loans are not eligible for forgiveness at this time (however, if you received an emergency advance/grant as part of the EIDL program, that money can be forgiven). If you received Unemployment benefits, these are personal benefits and shouldn’t be documented in your business records.

What are some business tax deductions that pet sitters and dog walkers may not have thought of, and what documentation do they need to keep track of so they can take those deductions?

Business expenses include any expenses incurred in carrying on a trade or business. These expenses are deductible if they are both “ordinary and necessary” to your business. An expense is considered “ordinary” if it is common and accepted in your trade or business. An expense is considered “necessary” if it is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business. So be sure to consider the business use of your home (home office) and car (travelling to/from pet visits), any job supplies you may need to take care of the pets, as well as training and education expenses related to pet care. If you walk dogs in extreme heat or cold, you may be able to deduct the doggie sweaters or booties that the dogs need in order to be walked safely. Your poop-scoop bags are tax-deductible as are your key lockboxes or key chains to safely hold client keys. Keep receipts for any expenses you incur in case you are audited.

Because they are self-employed, how can pet sitters best determine how much of their income they should “set aside” for state and federal taxes?

A good rule of thumb is to set aside roughly 25% of your income for state and federal taxes. This amount will vary based on your individual tax situation, so it’s best to

seek the advice of a tax professional for a more targeted amount. Self-employed individuals, including LLCs, should make estimated tax payments throughout the year to stay compliant and to eliminate a large tax bill at tax time.

Is there another important bookkeeping, accounting or tax tip you would like to share with pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners?

The most important rules for keeping good books and records are: 1) Do not mix business and personal expenses. Have a separate business account for your business transactions and do not pay for personal expenses from this account. Commingling of funds is not appropriate in business and could put you at risk legally and financially. 2) Use a software program to keep you organized. Find a good accounting software to track your revenue and expenses. Link your bank accounts to the software to pull in your transactions, and set up rules to automatically categorize those transactions. 3) Reconcile your accounts monthly. Make sure your accounting records match your bank statements. If they do not, you’ll need to explain this in an audit. Transactions can get duplicated and/or omitted in your accounting software, so reconciling your accounts every month will ensure your records are accurate.

If you have more questions or would like to learn more about Becky Eberly, visit www.bluestonebusiness.com. 

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 49

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Don’t Miss PSI’s Next Free Member Webinar!

Wednesday, April 21, 2021 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. EST Creating Captivating Content

This free webinar for PSI members will walk you through what it takes to create content that captures your audience. By the end of this workshop, you will have a clear understanding of what constitutes engaging content and will have chosen your primary social media platform and begun creating a four-week content plan.

This webinar will be presented by Lauren Heath, better known as the Empathpreneur, a social-worker-turned-entrepreneur with a passion for serving others.

Visit petsit.com/psi-webinars to register for these webinars. Webinars are free to members, but pre-registration is required. All member webinars are recorded for on-demand viewing, and the on-demand recordings of PSI’s 2020-21 free member webinars include closed-captioning and/or transcripts.

PSI’s 2021 free member webinar series is sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas, www.psi-ins.com.

Certified Professional Pet Sitters earn up to 2 CEUs per webinar.

malware/virus...Hacker...databreach: Is your business covered?

Contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas to learn more about | Mar/Apr2021 PSW| Apr-Jun 2020 51 51 cyber, privacy and network security liability coverage.PSW

Are you promoting your

PSI MEMBERSHIP? Add the PSI member logo to your: • Business website

• Business cards • Email signature • Contracts • Print and digital advertisements • Social-media pages • Vehicle signage • Presentation book • Brochures and fliers • Event, fair or festival materials

Mention your PSI membership: • On your company’s voicemail message • When speaking with potential clients • In radio or television ads • In interviews with local media • In conversations with veterinarians and other local pet professionals • To your staff sitters

k r spea e v e u ho Do yo ners w w o t e to p if it’s t sure e a o n e r a us tant to impor t sitter?

PSI pe

Refer th petsit em to encou .com or rag give P e them to SI a c all!

Download the PSI member logo from Petsit.com> Members area>Member Tools & Resources>Downloads.

52 www.petsit.com

Elevating the Industry One Member at a Time...

Join the hundreds of fellow pet-care professionals who have earned the CPPS® designation.

Visit petsit.com/cpps to learn how you can become a

Certified Professional Pet Sitter®

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 53

Certification Announcements Congratulations to these PSI members who have recently earned the designation of CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter®: Christy Aaron CJ’s Pet Staycation Carson, CA

Joanne Ehinger Splooters West Chester, PA

Beverly Amsler The Well-Trained Dog & Pet Care Roanoke, VA

Rosemary Emmel K9 Nirvana Pet Care Gainesville, VA

Michelle Argyros Peace of Mind Dog Sitting Hauppauge, NY

Debbie Findlay Home Sweet Home Pet Sitting Layton, UT

Danna Baida Purrmore Cat Care Jamaica Plain, MA

Deanna Gingrich Walkin’ Paws Waterloo, ON Canada

Lisa Bloom House Pet San Diego, CA Kimberly-Jo Burker KJB Sitting Services, LLC Allentown, PA Michelle Candeloro Dog Walking and Petsitting Specialists and Ellicottcitypetsitter.com Ellicott City, MD Colleen Coatsworth Colleen’s Critter Care Leslie, MI Nora Crowe Nora’s Pet Sitting Service, Inc. Lemont, IL Samantha Donofrio South Jersey Pet Sitting LLC Somers Point, NJ

54 www.petsit.com

Stephanie Glawe Sunshine Pet Time Neptune Beach, FL Michelle Gosser WaKeeney, KS Sue Gregory Little Lion Pet Care Sarver, PA Lisa Gustin 3 Happy Dogs, LLC Wheat Ridge, CO Chelsea Hall Chelsea’s Critter Care, LLC Germantown, MD

Ryan Hodge Jenn’s Pet TLC, LLC San Jose, CA

Cheryl Rabkin At Home Pet Sitting Aliso Viejo, CA

Cathy Hunter Cat-Mandu’s Fluff Monsters Inc. Asheville, NC

Cathy Ricci Avery Ranch Furry Friends Austin, TX

Christian Jacques Companion Synergy Salem, MA Christina Kostof Sweet Tails Pet Sitting Tustin, CA Mindy Langer Homebound Hound Grayslake, IL Joshua Latour Walk N’ Roll NYC Brooklyn, NY Jaime LeBreton Jaime’s Cat Sitting Service Granby, MA Stephanie Lefever Brew City Pet Services, LLC Cudahy, WI Dottie Lewis Dottie’s Pet Sitting Services Mission Viejo, CA Carla McClellan Tallahassee Lassie Pet Care, LLC Tallahassee, FL Megan Montedoro The Houndstooth Hotel West Hollywood, CA Ida Nieves Woodhaven, NY

Laura Heatwole Red Waggin Pets The Colony, TX

Nancy Oren-Jezek Hundesalong Pet Services Magnolia, TX

Robert Hill Pet Pals of Palm Springs Palm Springs, CA

Lonnie Philo Tails From Home Harrison, NY

Elissa Rosenberg Sunny’s Way Pet Services Croydon, PA Clare Siska Acton Critter Sitters Acton, MA Elzbieta Sotelo The Pet Palz of Greenwich Greenwich, CT Cheryle Stadler Paws To Play, Inc. Cooper City, FL Claire Thain-Zafar Sweet Annie’s InHome Pet Sitting Midlothian, VA Abbey Thompson Creatures Pet Care Kalamazoo, MI Patti Tobel Paws and Hoofs West Greenwich, RI Michele Vaske FOREVER HOME PET CARE LLC Amelia, OH Erin Verlaan Scarlett Francis Pet Sitting Calgary, AB Canada Thalia Wiggins 3-T and Friends Pet Services LLC Washington, DC Kristen Woznick Lefty’s Local Pawsome Pet Care Atlanta, GA Joyce Zapata Pawpet | Pet Care Doral, FL

Congratulations also to these members for renewing their CPPS® designation for an additional three years.

Lindsay Barbour Leashes of Love Wilmington, NC

Bunny Lane Cierras Paw Pals Novato, CA

Rhonda Benson Luckee Dog K9 Services Forney, TX

John Liversidge Linda’s Critter Sitters LLC Glastonbury, CT

Julie Birschbach Catsit Crazy Louisville, CO

Janet Marra Furry Friends Pet Sitting Service Taunton, MA

Wendy Blackstone Pet-Rageous Jacksonville, FL Gail Boyer goodlifepetsitter Lakewood Ranch, FL Caitlin Brody Cait’s Creature Comfort Vancouver, WA Katie Casell Dances With Dogs, Inc. Miami, FL Deb Clark Oceanair Pet Care Maggie Valley, NC Chris Cooper Glad Wags Bradenton, FL Robin Donahey Paws 4 Pet Sitting Davenport, FL Jackie Douglas Bloomington Pets R Us Bloomington, IN Tasha Erickson Pawsitive Pet Care Nashville, TN Rosemary Hafeli Cat Tales of the Napa Valley Napa, CA Judy A. LaFave Missing U Pet Sitting, Inc. Merrionette Park, IL

Rachel Reisner Cats and Hamsters Montreal, QC Canada Dot Roise-Lodsin Bowser Limo Pet Sitting Service Danbury, CT Linda Ross Choices Pet Sitters Jasper, GA

Amy Marrah Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services San Diego, CA

Karen Rossi Feathers to Fur Pet Care LLC, CPPS Parker, CO

Lorraine Masticola Lorraine’s Pet & House Sitting Service Secane, PA

Theresa Stout Teri’s Sitting Service Torrance, CA

Karlynn Misiak Karlynn’s Pet/ House Sitting Service Las Vegas, NV Nicole Moonier Colee’s Pet Care Long Beach, CA Lynne Moore More For Your Pet®, LLC Charlotte, NC Ivy Murillo Ivy’s Critter Care Covina, CA Helene O’Neill AZ Pawsitively Pets Prospect Heights, IL Vicky Opine MISS VICKY’S PET SITTING & SERVICES Garland, TX Marilyn Pletcher Lyn’s Pet Posse Pet Sitting Services Somerset, OH Janice Rea Jan’s K9 and Kat Sitting, LLC Vestal, NY

Joni Sullivan Joan of Ark Pet Sitting Rockland, MA Amber Van Denzen Suarez Atta Boy! Animal Care Mulberry, FL Lori Werner Nature’s Nanny Pet Sitting, LLC Lexington, KY Susan Wilhite Jasper’s Way Tulalip, WA Bobbi Wilson Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC Columbia, MO Scott Wilson Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC Columbia, MO Linda Yankie Affectionate Care Pet Sitting Lake Elsinore, CA Eileen Young Pawprints Services, LLC North Fort Meyers, FL 

We can’t keep the cat off your keyboard...

But we can offer ongoing education to fit your schedule and budget.

Visit petsit.com/pro to learn more.

PSW | Apr-Jun 2021 55

Pet Sitters International P.O. Box 457 Pfafftown, NC 27040 (336) 983-9222 www.petsit.com

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Columbus, WI Permit # 73

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56 www.petsit.com