Pet Sitter's World Magazine Jan-Mar 2024, a publication of Pet Sitters International

petsit.com

Nov/Dec 2019

JAN-MAR 2024 | THE #1 MAGAZINE FOR PRO PET SITTERS & DOG WALKERS

Pet Sitter’s World Pet First Aid Skills every pet pro should know

Setting your company goals

for 2024

Preparing your business for the changing needs of pet parents

Patti J. Moran

PSI Founder & CEO

+ PSI Celebrates 30 YEARS A Publication of Pet Sitters International • www.petsit.com

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Registration opens Jan. 2.

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Sessions to help you protect your clients, your business and yourself

WORLD

PET SITTER’S CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the PSI President

6

Patti Moran reflects on PSI’s 30 years

Jan-Mar 2024 • Vol 30 Issue 1

41 Things to post on social media (Jan-Mar) 42 Professionalism that doesn’t include self-care is incomplete 46 Best practices for building your dog-walking business

12 PSI salutes founding member businesses 12 CPPS Quiz

48 The changing needs of pet parents

13 PSI’s 2024 Free Member Webinar Series

53 How do you determine employee pay?

14 PSI announces finalists for 2024 Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award

53 Diversity and inclusion resources 54 CPPS Announcements

16 PSI celebrates 30 years—but the best is yet to come 18 Setting your company goals for 2024 20 Thank you #PSW23 attendees and sponsors 26 Pet first aid skills every pet-care pro should master

48 48

30 Google knows what’s in your photos 34 Insurance Issues

32

39 An easy way to explain your PSI membership 40 Make the most of your PSI membership

41

On the cover Patti J. Moran is PSI’s founder and CEO and the author of Pet Sitting for Profit. She is pictured on the cover with Jilly (left) and Henry (right). Learn more about Patti’s journey in the pet-sitting industry on p.

6. This photo, along with the photos on pp. 6,9, and 10, were taken by Aubrey Turner, Only Sky Studios.

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PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 3

FROM THE PSI PRESIDENT

Get Ready for a New Year— and New Opportunities While I’m a big proponent of goal setting, I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions. But what I started doing several years back is choosing a “word of the year”—a word that would serve as the theme for what I wanted to accomplish or how I wanted the coming year to be.

My 2024 word is WELCOME. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “welcome” (the verb) as: 1. to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality 2. to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of That’s my hope this year—that I welcome new experiences, new people, new challenges, and new opportunities…and that I embrace these with pleasure!

While “welcome” doesn’t have to be your word of the year, I encourage you to be open to new experiences, people, challenges, and opportunities this year—especially when it comes to your pet-care business.

As I’ve pondered my word of the year, I’ve been thinking about the importance of preparedness. While we can be open to new opportunities, if we aren’t ready when the opportunity arises, it will pass us by.

There are many small things you can do now to ensure you are ready for the various professional opportunities that came your way.

So, in 2024, I am going to issue a small challenge for you in each issue—and while small, these actions can ensure that you are ready for new opportunities in 2024!

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Challenge 1: Get a professional (or at least high quality) headshot.

I’ve spoken with many members who wanted to be on the cover of this magazine, featured as a member spotlight on social media, or even submit an article or speaker proposal—but didn’t have a photo (or usable photo) that was needed.

Those are missed opportunities.

Locally, you may find opportunities to be included in a local newspaper or business spotlight—or maybe you want to be a guest on a podcast or participate in a business panel. A photo will be needed.

Have a headshot taken this month (holding a pet, if possible!). Additional photos of you walking a dog, caring for a cat, etc., are also great to have for business use! If budget is a concern, look for local photographers offering mini sessions (shorter and much less expensive than a full photo shoot). Or reach out to your network—you may know a photographer who is willing to photograph you for free (or at a deep discount) to help build their portfolio or even barter for some pet-sitting services. If using an actual photographer is not an option, you can have someone take your photo with their smartphone (or even set the timer option to take the photo yourself). Current smartphones take high-quality, high-resolution photos, so there’s no excuse not to get a headshot taken!

Are you going to accept this challenge? If so, let me know—I’d love to see your photo(s)! You can always email me at beth@petsit.com.

Beth

Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President

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 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, Systems Operations Manager Michelle Boles, Graphic Design Manager Meghann Evans, Education & Outreach Manager Heather Smith, Membership Programs Coordinator ©Copyright 2024 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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March 17, 2024

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 5

Patti Moran reflects on PSI’s 30 years— and the past, present, and future of our industry

By Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President

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It was 1983. Patti J. Moran suddenly found herself unemployed—her position terminated at the large manufacturing company where she had spent the past seven years working her way up to management from her starting clerical position.

This company she joined one week after her college graduation had downsized, and Patti’s career was one of its casualties. For many, this would have been a recipe for disaster, but for Patti the result was something else, something she didn’t quite realize she needed so desperately—FLEXIBILITY. She would need a new job, though, and the idea of owning her own business had always appealed to her. And as she began to research different business ideas, she also began taking time for herself—she planted a garden, took local classes, mowed her lawn on cool weekday mornings.

“These activities were all luxuries to me after seven years in the corporate rat race when my waking hours all seemed dictated by the demands of my job,” Patti shares. “I was quickly spoiled by this flexible schedule and could not stomach the idea of going back to an 8-5 office job.”

She needed a business idea that would be something she enjoyed and provided an adequate income—but also one that would allow her to hold onto the newfound flexibility she had grown to love.

Patti’s ah-ha moment came in the form of a visit from a friend who had recently moved to another city. This friend—a fellow pet parent—shared that she was paying someone to come to her home for a couple visits each day to take care of her dog while she was visiting Patti.

Patti was all too familiar with the challenges of traveling as a pet parent and quickly realized the need this type of service could fill in her community. She also realized that if she could make this a legitimate business, it would check off all the items on her career wish list—something she loved, the opportunity to make a decent income, and the flexibility she wanted to maintain.

While this type of business was unheard of at the time, she took a leap of faith and started her own pet-sitting company in North Carolina that same year.

Patti found several resources about starting a small business, but there were no resources on

pet sitting or in-home pet care. She seriously contemplated the risks of launching an “unheard of” business. The uncertainty of venturing into an unestablished industry was frightening. And, as she searched for business insurance coverage, many doors were shut in her face. No one had heard of—or understood—professional pet sitting.

“When I started my pet-sitting business, I didn’t have a guidebook or an association to turn to for support or advice,” she explains.

Caring for other peoples’ pets just like they were her own wasn’t just a business idea for Patti—it was a passion, and she soon realized it was a passion that others wanted to find a way to pursue as well.

After word of her business spread to other parts of the United States, she was encouraged to put her experiences and hard-earned “how-to advice” on paper. In 1987 she wrote the first book and premier reference on the topic—Pet Sitting for Profit.

Through the years, her book has been considered by many to be the “bible” of professional pet sitting.

Patti says she is grateful that she was able to use her experiences to help others find success in a new industry without having to reinvent the wheel or work in isolation as she had initially.

“It was my desire for others to not have to ‘go it alone’ that prompted me to write my book and then to, ultimately, start Pet Sitters International,” she says.

Patti took a leap of faith, and while she can still feel the initial trepidation—and excitement—just like it was yesterday, it’s now been three decades since she decided to sell her then-thriving pet-sitting business and start Pet Sitters International in 1994.

Since that time, PSI has led the way as a pioneer in the professional pet-sitting industry, growing to become the largest educational association for pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners in the world—and most importantly, helping thousands of pet lovers start and grow professional petsitting services, and find the flexibility and financial freedom Patti sought after so many years ago.

As we celebrate this important PSI milestone—30 years—Patti shares her thoughts on the past, present and future of PSI and the professional petsitting industry at large. (continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 7

Reflecting on the Past Thinking back to the ‘80s when you were first starting your business, what were the biggest challenges you encountered and what were your biggest surprises?

Patti: The professional pet sitting industry was non-existent. The status quo at that time was to ask a neighborhood kid, mom, or a family member to check in on the pets when an owner was away. So, the biggest challenge was overcoming the naysayers and convincing the skeptics that ours was a needed and valuable service for their pets and their own peace of mind.

The biggest surprise was just how many devoted pet owners were very interested when learning of my professional pet-sitting services. For every pet owner who was used to leaving a bowl of dry food out for the cat during their summer vacation, there was one who said, “I haven’t taken a vacation in years because I wanted someone who would indulge and love my pet as I do. Thank you for understanding and making it possible for me to attend a family reunion, etc.!”

Reflecting on the Present Thinking about our industry today, what are the biggest changes you have seen? What is most surprising to you?

Patti: The biggest change has involved technology. Anyone who has read my book knows that I started my pet-sitting business literally using index cards and a shoe box. Everything was on paper—from scheduling sitter assignments to Pet Report Cards and Pet Sitter Evaluations.

And old-fashioned bank checks were the standard form of payment. Now with the numerous software programs available for our industry members and websites being the expected introduction for businesses—not to mention online payment options like Square, Venmo, PayPal, etc.—pet-care businesses can be run with a smartphone.

At our recent 2023 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference, I was amazed to see members running their businesses on their phones from many states away— which included scheduling sitters for visits even though they were 3,000 miles away!

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Looking toward the Future Where do you see our industry in the next 10 years?

Patti: At our 25th anniversary celebration that recognized a quarter of a century for PSI, I said confidently that the future for our industry was bright. And then a global pandemic hit two months later. Travel stopped.

Going to an office or workplace stopped. The need for our industry members’ services stopped, except for the first responders and other essential workers still using services. I remember thinking, “How could this have happened—and so quickly?!”

True to form, though, the resiliency of our members rang true. And sure enough, member businesses rebooted, regrouped, recharged and we’ve come out on the other side of this pandemic wiser, more focused, and more in demand than ever.

I do think going forward it is very likely that government regulation is going to intervene, meaning that some type of licensing will be in our future.

We already see this with boarding facilities, and, in some areas, we have begun to see some regulations regarding dog walkers. Our pets are now such an acknowledged family member that the safety precautions a licensing program provides will come into fruition at some point. I believe the educational groundwork laid by PSI can play an important role in providing a framework for what should be required of a professional pet-care provider.

One thing is for sure in our future. Being an educated, professional pet sitter will be a must to meet the needs of a more sophisticated and demanding pet parent population—and to ensure the success for our members who are always faced with the unexpected on a daily basis!

(continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 9

Celebrating 30 years PSI has built the professional pet sitting industry one innovative block at a time over the past 30 years under your leadership. From our certification program to Professional Pet Sitters Week to Pet Sitter of the Year—and more—is there one thing that you’re proudest of?

Patti: There have been a lot of steps, building blocks along the way—all of which I’m proud of and grateful that they have led to a successful industry. And I’m very grateful for many people, from staff to pet sitters and the support along the way from my family and friends, as it hasn’t always been easy.

Overall, though, I’d have to say I’m very proud that the establishment of the pet-sitting industry has led to so many women knowing the rewards of operating their own business. While we are happy so many males have joined our industry, it has always been a female-dominated one.

I’m also very gratified—and proud—that because so many others shared this vision with me, again, pet sitters, dedicated staff, doting pet owners—it’s now a better world and life for pets and the people who love them. 

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You can follow us and join the conversation online: /PetSittersInternational

/pet-sitters-international

/petsittersinternational

Now available on Pet sitter apparel designs and more by Pet Sitters International

/PetSittersIntl

The PSI Blog

petsit.com/blog

PSI members only Facebook group: Professional Pet Sitters Chat

Visit petsit.com/apparel to learn more.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 11

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!

P

S

Attention CPPSs!

S

LUT A S E I

FOUNDING Member Businesses

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.

Important: To submit your quiz answers, please visit petsit.com/ceu-request to fill out and submit PSI’s CEU Request Form.

Quiz answers should be submitted through this form and not emailed directly to PSI. 1. True or False: PSI successfully campaigned to have “pet sitting” added to the Random House Dictionary in the year 1997.

2. List two of the benefits of standardizing your dog-walking services that are mentioned in this issue.

3. Fill in the blank: Five pet first aid skills that all pet sitters should master are how to control bleeding, identify intestinal upsets vs. poisoning, treat hot and cold injuries, manage _______, and perform pet CPR. 4. What are two of the self-care best practices shared, which can help combat burnout and compassion fatigue?

5. According to PSI’s recent PetSitter Staffing & Compensation Survey (2023), what percentage of PSI members indicated they pay employees an hourly wage?

Renew Your CPPS®!

View 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.

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At Pet Sitters International, we are grateful for each and every PSI member business. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to continue the important work of promoting education and professionalism in the industry and continuing to grow this community of like-minded professional pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners.

Since 2024 is PSI’s 30th anniversary year, we would also like to give special recognition to the businesses who joined PSI in its inaugural year (1994) and are still active members. They joined the association at a time when “pet sitting” was not yet a widely known phrase, and after 30 years of industry evolution and growth, they are still members of PSI. Most of these businesses still have their original owners, while a few have changed hands, but they have all been a long-time source of quality pet care in their communities.

Join us in congratulating these founding member businesses: Cindy Berndt, Critter Sitters & Company Inc., St. Louis, Missouri Holly A. Davies, Holly’s Expert, Loving Pet-sitting Service, Sanibel Island, Florida Libby Huzinec Davis, Team PawSome Pet Sitters, La Porte, Texas Mary E. Davis, Mary’s Critter Sitters, Niceville, Florida Karen & Jeff Helms, The Pet Set, Lewisville, Texas Sharon Jones, Guardian Pet Sitters®, The Colony, Texas Joyce M. Klinger, Paws And Tails Pet Sitting, Joliet, Illinois Suzanne Moews, Plantation Pet Sitters, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Kimberly L. Morrow, Ashmont Farm Pet Waggin, Sherborn, Massachusetts Kathleen Pitt, P.J.’s East Mountain Animal Care, Tijeras, New Mexico Pat Ramm, Grand-Paws Pet Sitting Service, Inc., Overland Park, Kansas Lorraine Zdeb, Love Your Pet LLC, Manville, New Jersey

Market Your Business More Effectively Building Your Pet-Care Business by Building Your Email List Presented by Tori Mistick, Wear Wag Repeat

Unleash Your Authenticity: How to build a trustworthy brand

JUNE 19

Understanding the 2024 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey

Grow Pet-centric: Engage your pet parent through contests, events & education

NOVEMBER 13

Thank you to Business Insurers of the Carolinas, sponsor of this year’s free member webinar series.

www.psi-ins.com

Presented by Olivia M. Gonzalez, OMG Brand Story, LLC

AUGUST 21

APRIL 17

FEBRUARY 21

with PSI’s 2024 Free Member Webinar Series

Presented by Amy Toman, Pet Sitter SEO

Presented by Bobbi Wilson, Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC

Use Public Relations to Get Buzz for Your Business When You Have No Money

To register for upcoming webinars, visit petsit.com/psi-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 webinars include closed-captioning and/or transcripts.

Certified members can earn up to 2 CEUs per webinar (whether you watch live or view the recordings).

Presented by Mary Tan Whisker Media PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 13

Pet Sitters International Announces Finalists for 2024 Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award Five professional pet-sitting business owners have been named finalists for Pet Sitters International’s 2024 Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award, the industry’s highest honor.

PSI congratulates the following top-five finalists who moved on to the next round of judging for the 2024 award:

Lorell López, Cat & Dog Nanny PR, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Dan Meyer, The Leash Team, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Kyle Morse, Simply Yours Concierge, Franklin Park, New Jersey

Nicole Packin, Miami Pet Concierge, Coral Gables, Florida

Bobbi Wilson, Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC, Columbia, Missouri

Since 1995, PSI has selected one professional pet-sitting business owner annually to be named Pet Sitter of the Year.

Nominees are evaluated on stringent criteria including client and professional references, commitment to quality pet care and professionalism, contributions to the local community and industry-at-large, and commitment to continuing education.

The five finalists submit additional documentation regarding their business practices, community involvement, pet-care training, marketing efforts and proof of clear criminal history as they move on to the next phase of the judging process.

The 2024 Pet Sitter of the Year will be announced in January 2024, and the winner will join the prestigious ranks of these past Pet Sitter of the Year recipients: ● 2023—Doug Keeling,

● 2015 — Gerry Arner,

● 2008 — Rob Nager,

● 2001 — Mark Gleckman,

● 2022 — Morgan Andenas

● 2014 — Michelle Miller,

● 2007 — Jen Miler,

● 2000 — Pat Love,

● 2021 — Daniel Reitman,

● 2013 — Sari Reis, CPPS,

● 2006 — Darlene Ehlers,

● 1999 — Heidi Kistler,

Bad to the Bone Pet Care, Jacksonville, Fla. Weber, Lucky Pup Adventures, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Dan’s Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, Port Washington, N.Y.

● 2020 — Jeanne Crockett,

CPPS, Pet 'n Nanny LLC, Wake Forest, N.C. CPPS, At Home Comforts Pet Sitting, Panama City, Fla. Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services, San Diego, Calif.

● 2012 — Vanessa Sorace,

CPPS, Crockett’s Critter Care, New Bern, N.C.

CPPS, Zoo Sitters LLC, Cape May Court House, N.J.

● 2019 — Liz Hyde, CPPS,

● 2011 — Jordan Di Marco,

● 2018 — Cathy Vaughan,

● 2010 — Scott Black,

● 2016 — Carrie Feinberg,

● 2009 — Cara Armour,

Pet Charmers, LLC, Gastonia, N.C.

CPPS, Cathy's Critter Care, Schertz, Texas CPPS, Safe Haven Advocate Pet Care, LLC, Elgin, Ill.

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CPPS, Dogma Catma Pet Sitting, Boulder, Colo.

Personal Touch Pet Sitting, Kingwood, Texas Active Paws, Watertown, Mass.

Decadent Dog Inc., Needham, Mass.

Doggone Purrfect Pet Care, St. Petersburg, Fla. Pampered Pets Home Care, Blue Jay, Ohio

● 2005 — Tammy Iseri,

The Pet Sitter, Elk Grove, Calif.

● 2004 — Holly Cook,

Special Pet Care Services, Marysville, Mich.

● 2003 — Dawn Secord, Fur, Feathers and Fins LLC, Chino Hills, Calif.

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

A Helping Hand, Acton, Calif.

Pets Are People Too! Hephzibah, Ga. The Pawsitively Pampered Pet, Berkeley, Calif.

● 1998 — Susan Baker, Pet’s Best Friend, Rocky Mount, N.C.

● 1997 — Sharon & Helene Jones, Sisters Sitting Service, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

● 1996 — Melanie Hocever, There’s No Place Like Home, Phoenix, Ariz.

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

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 15

PSI celebrates 30 years— I

March 1994 Pet Sitters International founded by Patti J. Moran to offer pet sitters access to group-rate pet-sitter insurance, educational resources and business tools.

I May 1994 The WORLD of PROFESSIONAL PET SITTING, the first magazine for professional pet sitters, is published.

I February 2013 Pet Sitters International’s Certification Program became first to offer comprehensive online and social media marketing training for pet sitters.

I March 6-10, 1995 First National Professional Pet Sitters Week announced and PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award is launched.

I March 2012 PSI releases its first-ever national television commercial, airing on cable and local television stations across the United States.

I I October 1995 Quest December 1995 PSI’s first Accreditation Program for for Excellence, the industry’s first interna- pet sitters through Thomson Education Direct is tional conference, held introduced. in Winston-Salem, NC.

I January 2010 PSI launched its Pet Sitting for Smarties© free member webinar series.

I April 2010 The Greensboro NC Chapter of the Society for Financial Service Professionals recognized PSI as a winner of the 2010 Piedmont Business Ethics award.

Torch

Awards for Ethics SM

I December 2013 PSI launched the new and improved online store for pet sitters, The Pet Sitter Shop, petsittershop.com (formerly PSIstoreonline.com).

I July 2015 PSI President Patti J. Moran was named a Pet Age ICON recipient, an award that honors pet-industry leaders who have demonstrated commitment in the industry for 20 or more years.

I April 2020 Less than a month after initial news reports regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, PSI launches its COVID-19 webinar series and Member Resource section on the website, soon followed by our COVID-19 certification course for pet sitters in May.

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I November 2016 PSI was named a Torch Award for Ethics recipient, an award presented by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Northwest North Carolina.

I July 2017 PSI launched its new and improved website, which included enhanced Locator profiles and digital products.

I September 2021 PSI transitions its online courses to the Teachable platform to offer users more seamless course signup and a more multimedia online learning experience.

—but the best is yet to come! pet’ sit’ting, n.— the act of caring for a pet in its own home while the owner is away.

I 1997 PSI successfully campaigned to have “pet sitting” added to the Random House Dictionary.

I I I September 2007 To teach June 25, 1999 First March 2005 PSI’s Accreditathe next generation of Take Your Dog To tion Program is updated and Work Day® is held revised to reflect the knowledge pet owners about loving, responsible pet care, PSI in the U.S. and demand for professional launched the Early Educastandards from today’s pet tion Program. owners.

I April 2008 PSI released the “Get a Real Pet Sitter” video on YouTube to educate pet owners on the benefits of using a professional pet-sitting service.

SURVEY SAYS I January 2010 PSI partnered with the World’s most famous “Fat Cat” Garfield.

I I September 2009 December 2009 First international PSI awarded its first Hungry Bowl™ Campaign is held with the help of PSI members. The charitable annual Platinum PAW Award. campaign is an organized effort to collect pet food for animal shelters across the United States, Canada and abroad.

I August 2017 announced its new Certified Professional Pet Sitter— CPPS® exam, the first-ever knowledgeassessed certification exam specifically for the pet-sitting industry.

I April 2018 PSI launched PETSIT PRO, its affordable online monthly learning subscription. This training option (now hosted on Teachable) offers two plan options (individual or unlimited staff) and includes resource libraries plus new monthly trainings.

I July 2008 PSI released the results from its State of the Industry Survey, the only resource of its kind offering statistical, demographic and behavioral data on PSI pet sitters, their businesses and clients.

I January 2019 PSI announced its first-ever online conference for pet sitters, to be held during PPSW 2019.

Thank you

I October 2022 After hosting the annual Pet Sitter World Educational Conference virtually for two years due to the pandemic, PSI returns to the in-person conference format with its 2022 PSW Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, October 2-4.

I October 2023 PSI returns to its hometown, WinstonSalem, NC, for the 2023 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference and makes a $5,000 donation on behalf of its Charity BINGO participants and attendees to the Friends of the Stokes Shelter (FOSS).

for your continued support of PSI and the professional pet-sitting industry!

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 17

S.M.A.R.T. Pet-Sitting Goals Worksheet This guide can help you set and achieve your business goals in 2024. Access your January 2024 Monthly Member Toolkit to download the complete workbook.

GOAL 1:

S M A R T

What specifically do I want to achieve?

What metrics will I use to determine if I've reached the goal?

Is the goal realistic and something my business is able to accomplish?

Does this goal make sense for my current stage of business and overall plan?

What is my deadline and are there benchmarks to reach along the way?

It’s easy to throw out possible goals you want to accomplish in the coming year like “I want to make a lot more money than I made last year!” But, take time to dig deeper and set SMART goals, which are much more likely to be achieved.

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85%

of pet-sitter insurance claims are Care, Custody, or Control claims.

Make sure you have the coverage you need for any claims your pet-sitting business may face!

Contact us:

www.psi-ins.com (800) 962-4611 PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 19

Thank You #PSW23 Attendees for Living Your Best #PetSitterLife in Winston-Salem, NC! The PSI team would like to thank everyone who made our 2023 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference (PSW23) in Winston-Salem, NC, October 5-7, such an amazing event!

PSW23 attendees included petsitting or dog-walking business owners from 29 U.S. states, Canada, and the Netherlands.

With the conference theme of “Living Your Best #PetSitterLife,” the 2023 event featured group dinners, an opening awards ceremony, a variety of general sessions, a member panel, the pet sitter “think tank,” and our always popular charity BINGO event, which enabled PSI to make a $5,000 donation to this year’s charity recipient, Friends of the Stokes Shelter (FOSS).

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(continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 21

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Thank You To Our

#PSW23 Sponsors!

BUSIN ES S INSURE R S OF THE CAROLINAS

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 23

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PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 25

Pet First Aid & Safety

Pet First Aid Skills Every Pet-Ca One out of three pets needs emergency care every year. How many four-legged clients do you currently care for?

One-third could face a scary predicament, and it could be on your watch! Spotting problems early on and insisting your clients get their pets the care they need is not only helpful to the dogs, cats, and other critters you care for, but it may lower the chance of your clients experiencing a crisis. It is also important that every pet-care pro masters the most basic pet first aid techniques because emergencies don’t provide much warning.

What Constitutes a Pet Emergency

A pet emergency is a health situation that veers from what is normal for that pet and requires immediate veterinary care. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the top situations that must be quickly assessed by a veterinarian are: 1. Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop within 5 minutes 2. Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing/ gagging 3. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine 4. Inability to urinate or defecate, or obvious pain associated with either 5. Eye injuries

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6. Poisoning 7. Seizures 8. Fractured bones, inability to move a limb 9. Signs of pain or extreme anxiety 10. Temperature 104°F (40°C) or higher 11. Vomiting or diarrhea, more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or along with illness or other situation listed here 12. Refuses to drink for 24 hours 13. Unconscious

are Pro Should Master Your Go-To Tool From day one, practice a Head-to-Tail check-up with all animals in your care, acquainting yourself with the individual pet’s body and behavior.

Notice the condition of the skin, coat and any lumps, bumps, or odors. By getting to know what is normal for that pet, you will be able to more quickly determine anything not quite right and provide the care needed. Additionally, by doing regular head-to-tail checks, the pet will become comfortable with human hands exploring their furry body, making it less stressful for you both should aid need to be provided.

Have a Plan in Place

Every 2 ½ seconds emergency care is provided in a U.S. veterinary facility, and every 6 seconds a pet owner receives a bill $1,000 or greater, says Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. That adds up to a lot of pain, stress, and dollars. Have a plan in place for any potential occurrence.

With your plan, you should: ● Know which clients have health conditions that could result in emergency situations (e.g., collapsing trachea, heart disease, diabetes, seizures, severe arthritis, etc.). Give thought to possible emergencies that could occur and what first aid must be provided. ● Have signed “authorization documents” outlining your client’s care preferences: what types of care, vet clinics and credit card on file at chosen facility so speedy care may be provided to the pet. Encourage pet parents to let their vet know in advance what their pet insurance policy covers. ● Practice calming techniques to remain focused when the worst happens. Observe the pet, documenting vitals, behavior, vocalizations and anything that occurred prior to the emergency so you may provide the veterinarian with clues for treatment.

By Denise Fleck, The Pet Safety Crusader™

Master These 5 Pet First Aid Skills

Here are five important pet first aid skills that every pet-care professional should master: 1. Control bleeding The keys to controlling severe bleeding are: ● Direct pressure ● Elevation ● Pressure on appropriate artery .

Bleeds persisting for five minutes or longer must receive immediate veterinary care.

2. Identify Intestinal Upsets vs. Poisoning Vomiting and/or diarrhea are signs of almost every illness, including poisoning, in both dogs and cats. Only your veterinarian knows for sure. Keeping dangers out of paws’ and claws’ reach may help you distinguish a case of poisoning from a digestive upset or more serious illness, such as bloat. In 2022, the ASPCA assisted 278,000+ pets who ingested toxic substances, and recreational drugs made the Top 10 List of Pet Toxins, knocking gardening products from the list.

Get down on all fours to keep the environment safe and know the basics: ● Vomiting: Check with your vet, but 1 tsp. Simethicone (Mylanta, Maalox, Milk of Magnesia) per 15 lbs. body weight.

Pepcid or Prilosec are also safe for most dogs while cats can only take Cerenia®. Distinguishing regurgitation which occurs quickly & silently from the audible retching and yellow/green bile associated with vomiting can help the vet. ● Diarrhea: ½ to 1 tsp. Imodium/Kaopectate may be suggested by your vet for dogs, but not cats! ● Constipation: Small amounts of pumpkin puree or scant tsp. unsweetened Metamucil® for pets 10-20 lbs. ● If there is no relief from any of these conditions with in 24 hours, seek veterinary care. ● Bloat: Get to the vet at once! Death can occur in minutes! ● Ingested Poisoning: For DOGS ONLY with your vet’s blessing, one (1) teaspoon of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide diluted with equal parts water for every 5 lbs. the dog weighs.

If there is no relief in 10 minutes, get to the vet! (continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 27

3. Treat Hot & Cold Injuries The simple rule is if the ground is too hot OR too cold for you to stand barefoot on, it is too hot or too cold for a pet.

5. Pet CPR This skill is best learned in a class so that you can practice techniques properly: ● Safely approach and check for breathing by feeling for rise of chest.

If a pet’s body temperature is 104°F (40°C) or higher:

● Pull back on the chin, keeping the side of face in contact with ground, to open airway.

● Remove the pet from hot environment.

● Close the pet’s mouth and give two full breaths into the nostrils.

● Think “wet & wind” cooling from “the paws up” (paws, pits, groin & belly skin) with room temperature water and some sort of breeze. ● Retake temperature every 3-5 minutes, stop cooling at 103°F and get to vet! ● Only dribble or spray small amounts of water in mouth to avoid aspiration.

If a pet’s body temperature is 100.4°F (38.5°C) or lower OR the pet is shivering: ● Get the pet to a warmer environment. ● Wrap the pet in blankets warmed in a clothes dryer; offer warm salt-free broth. ● Lower frozen body parts to increase circulation. ● Get to veterinary care ASAP.

4. Manage Choking Coughing/hacking, pawing at the mouth, rubbing the face on the ground, gagging, retching, or wheezing when trying to breathe are signs a pet is choking.

If the pet cannot quickly cough up obstruction: ● Look in the mouth, and if you can do so safely, attempt to remove object. ● If unsuccessful, begin abdominal thrusts by pushing up on the diaphragm, keeping pet horizontal to the ground and their back against your stomach. ● If objection doesn’t clear after 3 attempts of 5 thrusts, try chest thrusts by squeezing lungs with hands on both sides of the pet’s chest. ● The eXternal eXtraction technique (detailed in the Winter 2022 issue of Pet Sitter’s World) may be used ONLY for unconscious pets that swallowed a ball. It’s a way to “massage” the obstruction out before giving rescue breathing.

● Check for a pulse at the femoral artery. If one is present, continue rescue breathing and recheck pulse every 30 seconds. ● If there is no pulse, begin chest compressions at a ratio of 30 to every 2 breaths until you reach veterinary care or resuscitate pet.

In Conclusion Knowing what health conditions constitute a true emergency and having a plan in place can help you execute the pet first aid skills every pet-care pro should master with confidence. If it’s been two years since you’ve taken (or re-taken) a class, do not delay! Protocol changes and you must be prepared with the latest skills to come to the rescue. 

Denise Fleck is the Pet Safety Crusader™, having taught 31,000 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.

28 www.petsit.com

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 29

knows what’s in your photos…

Are you giving the best impression?

By Amy Toman, Pet Sitter SEO

When creating websites, business owners and developers often use stock images to illustrate pages or topics. Those images are usually reasonable representations of the business and the services they provide.

But in recent years, Google has made tremendous strides in their understanding of image content.

Using their tools, they can now sense what’s going on in a photo, and where else the photo’s been seen. Because they know how many times an image has been used, stock photos, while helpful, don’t make web pages stand out, and aren’t the best for representing businesses or their services. This should lead businesses to rethink the images they use in their online properties.

Over the past few years, I’ve recommended that businesses use unique photos instead of stock images. I’ve thought these photos best represent small businesses, even if the images don’t always look professional, and don’t look like everyone else’s. And you know what? I now have more reason to say that. Google has a new tool that can tell the content of images, down to the clothes people wear, and they use that information in their knowledge base about each business. If you haven’t paid much attention to the photos on your Google listing, now’s the time to reconsider.

Why use unique images?

I’ve always thought unique images are usually more interesting than stock images, partially because stock may be shown on several (if not several hundred) web 30 www.petsit.com

pages. That means their value on individual pages is diminished, and they add nothing special to your business. Unique images don’t have that problem. If the photo was taken by or for you, the full value of it will be for your website or Google listing. Unique photos are also more easily controlled, so business owners can decide exactly what they want portrayed, and if they’re going to add elements or remove them.

And by unique images, I mean photos taken of your business by you, your staff, another user, or a professional photographer.

Also, because stock images are seen in so many places, they lose the unique qualities that allow them to be seen prominently in Google image search, which is one more opportunity to be seen in search results.

What is Google’s Vision AI tool?

Over the past few years, Google’s ability to understand and categorize images has grown exponentially. Not only can search engines understand the content of images, they do it at a much more granular level than you might think.

Google now uses a special tool to assess images added to Google listings, and as business owners, you should understand what this tool says about your photos. Google’s “Vision AI” tool is amazing, and free to use. It’s part of a service Google offers for largescale image analysis, but users can try it by going to https://cloud. google.com/vision. The tool serves as an introduction to how Google perceives the different elements of images.

For example, let’s take a look at this cover image of Hearts at Home Pet Sitting in Yorktown, Virginia, that features the owner, Camea Allen.

Original photo:

I uploaded this image, and let the tool do its thing. The first set of indicators shows intangible elements, like facial expressions. Note that they first isolate the face itself:

Showing “joy” in your cover image is a great way to represent yourself and your business, By showing Google that you love the situation you’re in (in this case with dogs) and you’re representing a business, that says a lot about both you and the business.

Another important area shows what “labels” (tangible elements) Google picks up:

The rest of that list includes: ● Collar ● Whiskers ● Snout ● Selfie ● Fur ● Bull Terrier (miniature) ● Bull Terrier

● Sporting Group ● Canidae ● Puppy Love ● Paw ● Guard Dog ● Ancient Dog Breeds ● Non-Sporting Group

I find it powerful that Google’s impressions range from “seeing” the expression on a subject’s face, to describing that person's clothes, to categorizing other elements like dogs. They then take the next step and categorize those dogs to say they’re carnivores, mention their possible breeds, and even their purposes (guard dogs) and the groups they belong to (Sporting, Non-sporting).

I’ve also seen results that include what type of clothing a person is wearing (e.g., jacket, suit, tie, outerwear), the type of work those people perform (e.g., white-collar worker, official, team) and some random vibes, like business, management, and collaboration. I’m also seeing the list of categories grow and become more perceptive, so I expect over time the list will be even more detailed.

What does Google do with the information from your photos?

They store it. They store it as elements of what is referred to as the “entity” that is your business.

For example, they know that Camea Allen (seen above) is associated with a business called Hearts at Home Pet Sitting. They know from her photos

that the business works with dogs, and that (if judged by the above photo) she loves dogs. They know where she’s located (from her Google listing and her website) and they know the services she provides. But her photos may tell a more involved story.

Camea’s website may or may not mention staff. But her photos show people walking dogs in company branded shirts, so Google may categorize them as working for the business. And if those people are smiling, that indicates they enjoy dogs too. The website may not mention breeds or sizes, but her photos show dogs and cats of all varieties. The website may not mention feeding cats or dogs, but her photos show it being done.

And even if the website mentions all of those things, her images enhance the descriptions seen on the site.

Amy Toman is a professional SEO and Platinum Google Product Expert.

She has been working with pet sitters since 2015 and started her own digital marketing agency in 2017.

She maintains an active Facebook presence and welcomes questions from business owners of all levels of technical expertise.

Learn more about Amy’s services at petsitterseo.com.

Google uses all of the information gleaned from these photos to categorize your business and to enhance the “entity” that is your business. It’s one more element that you can control about your online presence, and how you’re promoted in the search engines.

Now what?

Now that you know this and know that Google can “see” the contents of your photos, take a look at your Google listing and website. Are you posting unique images, and do they represent your business, your services, and your staff, in the best way possible? Do they show the animals you care for in the best light (both technically and emotionally)? Do you show staff performing the services you offer on your website? And if someone who didn’t know your business found your photos, would they know, without seeing text, what services you provide and what animals you care for? And would they get a good, friendly, impression of your business?

If you’ve been posting consistently, and your photos serve you well, then well done! If they don’t present the picture of your business that you’d like, now’s the time to plan ahead. Start taking photos that you feel best represent you, your services, your staff, and perhaps your client animals. Consider asking staff to take photos during their workday; incentivize them if necessary. Also ask clients if they wouldn’t mind taking a few photos.

Remember: Google looks at your photos, and they do it before potential clients see them. Make sure you’re showing your business as the best it can be. Google’s watching…  PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 31

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

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Visit petsit.com/online-courses.

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petsit.com/focus PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 33

Insurance Issues

By David Pearsall, Business Insurers of the Carolinas

Check out these…

Recent General Liability Claims: • A few dogs were playing together and one of the dog’s ears was torn by another dog’s tooth.

Total Paid $1,027.

• While an employee was walking a client’s dog, the dog was spooked by a loud noise from a construction site and slipped out of their harness.

The dog ran into the road and was hit by a car.

Total Paid $4,680.

• A dog became overheated on a walk and was rushed to the vet. Total Paid $17,267.

• While being groomed, a dog suffered a cut on its side. Total Paid $1,672.

• A pet sitter was keeping two dogs (from different households) at her home. The dogs got into a fight, and one suffered a laceration to their left eye.

Total Paid $3,861.

• A pet sitter threw a dog toy that landed on the client’s dining table causing damage.

Total Paid $3,141.

• While taking care of a client’s pet lizard, the pet sitter failed to latch the cage correctly and the lizard escaped and was not found. Total Paid $7,200.

• An employee lost the keys to a client’s home. The house was rekeyed. Total Paid $391.

• While on a walk, a dog in a pet sitter’s care stepped on a rattlesnake and was bitten on the foot.

Total Paid $5,216.

• A pet sitter was wiping down the counter and picked up a paper towel holder. The base of the holder fell off breaking a plate and chipping the edge of the kitchen island in two places. Total Paid $4,382.

Recent Workers’ Compensation Claims: • A dog became excited when the pet sitter arrived at the house and ran into the employee’s knee with its head, causing injury. Total Paid $2,534.

• An employee was walking two dogs when both dogs suddenly pulled the pet sitter causing a tear/strain in their shoulder. Total Paid medical and indemnity $28,087.

• While being given medicine, a dog became agitated and bit the nose of the employee. Total Paid $1,926.

34 www.petsit.com

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.

Kick off 2024…

Prepare, Review, Repeat!

When you meet a new prospective client with concerns about leaving their precious pet(s) and personal belongings in your care for the first time, do you…

Editor's Note: As PSI celebrates 30 years, we want to thank Business Insurers of the Carolinas.

David Pearsall and the BIC team have partnered with PSI and supported the industry since the very beginning!

A. Tell them all the horror stories about all the possible things you’ve read about in this column over the years that could potentially go wrong?

B. Spend time listening to their concerns, documenting details of their pet’s daily routine, and set their mind at ease that their pet, home, and everything inside will be well taken care of while they’re away?

I’m guessing (and hoping) most of you out there chose option B! But truth be told, no matter how much reassurance you provide during the initial meet and greet, or how confident you may be in your ability to “over deliver” on your promise, you can never be 100% sure whether or not we will be reading about your nightmare in the next edition of “Recently Paid Claims” in my articles.

However, it is very important to remember that making the paid claims list should never be viewed as negative or looked down upon. In fact, although some may be hesitant to admit it, most everyone reading this article would rather read about their own recently paid claim here as opposed to seeing their

wages garnished, their bank account(s) frozen, and/or having a property lien placed on their personal home.

Prepare, Review, Repeat!

Ideally everyone would prefer that the incident resulting in an insurance claim never take place to begin with. As a professional, the best way to make that happen is to prepare—just as you plan and prepare for your next meet and greet appointment.

When you arrive at a prospective client’s home and meet their pet(s) for the first time and are prepared, you demonstrate to that prospect your skills and genuine concern for their pet(s).

When you prepare, you come across as a true professional that pays attention to detail, and a business that is worthy of their trust.

Most experts in the field learn from their past mistakes. They do this by reviewing what went wrong and making every effort to improve, so it does not occur again. The same holds true for the insurance protection you choose to carry. When you take time to educate yourself on the correct coverage you require for your business, you prepare.

When you take an inventory of all your risk exposures and carefully determine which of those risks could cause you and your business the most harm, you prepare. (continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 35

Each year, when you receive your renewal application or policy in the mail, you thoroughly review your existing coverage. Upon review, you also consider any changes that have taken place over the last year, as well as any plans you might have to change your services or operations in the year ahead. Once again, you carefully consider and determine if you are adequately covered for those services and any additional exposures to risk, just as you did when you started your business. If you are not comfortable that your coverage is adequate, you then determine whether increasing your limits or purchasing additional coverage endorsements/options is the right move for your business.

General Liability Insurance For professional pet sitters and dog walkers, the facts are clear as to which coverage should come first. When carefully preparing and educating yourself to the risks/exposures in the pet-care industry, you will find that the largest losses (i.e., paid claims) are typically a result of dog bites or other bodily injuries to a third party. You will also find that the most frequent incidents that occur often involve injuries to client’s pets and personal property in your care, custody, or control (CCC).

The above said, the one insurance coverage/policy all pet-care businesses (or any other business) should consider is general liability insurance. General liability insurance is defined as a form of liability insurance which covers you/your business (i.e., the insured) against claims for bodily injuries or property damage resulting from your services or operations.

The most recognized example of a bodily injury claim for a pet care provider is a dog bite. If a dog in your care bites someone (other than you or the team members working on behalf of your business), causing bodily injuries, and your business is sued and/or found to be negligent for those injuries, there is a good chance you will be responsible for paying for legal counsel to defend against the accusation, as well as all necessary medical expenses, and additional expenses needed to make the victim whole again. These types of claims, as many of you know, can take many years, and cost thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend and resolve. Most general liability policies include defense coverage, outside the limit of liability; however, you should always check with your insurer to confirm this is the case.

General liability also provides coverage against property damage caused by you or your team. A couple of the most common examples include when a dog in your care gets into an altercation with another pet while venturing out for some exercise, resulting in injuries to the other pet. Another is when you forget to properly latch the puppy crate and the teething puppy chews up the client’s walls or other real property that is permanently attached to your client’s home.

36 www.petsit.com

For a professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business, it is important to not only purchase a general liability policy, but preferably one that provides an endorsement that eliminates the care, custody, or control (CCC) exclusion commonly found in most general liability policies (if utilizing the ISO CG0001 coverage form or similar). Most insurance companies utilize Insurance Services Offices (ISO), the primary advisory board for the insurance industry) coverage forms, and/or adopt a good portion of this coverage form as a basis and amend it to make their own proprietary form.

Nevertheless, if there is not a separate endorsement in your general liability policy, removing the exclusion for personal property in your CCC, or offering any other type of endorsement providing coverage for your client’s pets and personal property/contents of the client’s home, then you should seriously consider looking for another insurer/ policy. Otherwise, you have zero protection for any injuries to the pets you are caring for.

It is also important to note that even a policy that contains an endorsement providing coverage for your clients’ pets and personal property in your CCC may not fully protect you. That’s because many insurers providing CCC coverage will place a sub-limit on the amount of coverage they will provide/pay, per animal, per year (often shown as aggregate on your policy). What that means is although you may be led to believe that you have $25,000 in coverage to protect against injuries to pets in your CCC, what limit or amount of coverage you really have is dictated by the 75-150+ pages of coverage forms that follow, including your primary coverage form which includes your policy exclusions, limitations, conditions, provisions, definitions, supplementary payments….need I say more.

Sure enough—when one of your client’s pets incurs a significant injury, the real truth will usually come out and reveal itself. What most unprepared or uneducated policyholders will typically find at claim time is the reality that the coverage they thought they had, and were certain that they purchased, just isn’t there. If I may use my favorite Mark Twain quote once more, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” That is because their insurance company has a per pet or per animal sub-limit (ranging from $100 to $5,000) or a “regardless of fault” for vet medical sub-limit with similar limitations or restrictions. And it gets worse…

When your client’s French Bulldog is hit by a car, and suffers multiple pelvic fractures, and needs 9-14 months of rehab and follow visits…well I’m sorry, your coverage for any one claim or occurrence is limited to 30 days.

Remember, you don’t want to find yourself in this position, so prepare, review, and repeat! 

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 37

The you need need The answers answers you to care to provide provide the the care they deserve— deserve— they all starts starts with with asking itItall asking the right questions! the right questions!

petsit.com/shop Are you taking advantage of PSI’s

These downloadable, easy-to-customize pet profile sheets help you make sure you ask the right questions before accepting a pet-sitting assignment.

Currently available at petsit.com:

PSI’s PETSIT PRO online training subscription includes: • Business Resource Library with nearly 50 training videos • Pet Care Resource Library with 80+ training videos Bird Care Profile Sheet

Dog Care Profile Sheet

• A new mini course each month, led by an industry expert

Plus, PSI member subscribers also receive: • The PETSIT PRO icon added to your company’s PSI Pet Sitter Locator • Opportunity to earn CEUs for CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitters®

Horse Care Profile Sheet

Cat Care Profile Sheet

PETSIT PRO online training subscription $29.00, Use coupon code PSIMemberSavings on Teachable.

Fish Tank Care Profile Sheet

Send them to prospective clients before the initial consultation or include them with your pet-sitting contract.

Pet Sitting Service Contract - Digital Version (Instant Download) $45.00*

Dog-Walking Service Contract (Instant Download) $45.00*

*Be sure you are logged in to receive your special member pricing when purchasing contracts and forms.

Shop now at petsit.com/shop.

38 38 www.petsit.com www.petsit.com

An Easy Way to Explain Your PSI Membership to Clients Highlighting that you are a PSI member is a simple way to emphasize your professionalism to current and potential clients—but you may find that you aren’t sure of the easiest way to explain what being a member means for your clients.

To help explain to clients why they benefit from using the services of a PSI member, we’ve created a dedicated page on the PSI website—petsit.com/what-PSI-membership-means—that we encourage you to link to from your website.

PROTECTION AGAINST LIABILITY. PROTECTION AGAINST DISHONESTY.

Contact Us: www.binks.ca

(877) 302-4657

If you use the PSI member logo on your site, or mention in your web copy that you’re a member, simply link the logo or text to this dedicated page. You can also include this link on social media, on your LinkedIn profile, etc.—any time you post your PSI membership certificate, the member logo, or mention your PSI membership. If you have any questions about how to promote this page, please contact us.

BINKS is proud to be the exclusive insurance broker for PSI’s Canadian Members.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 39

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.

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: • Free Monthly Member Toolkit • Free custom business profile on PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator • PSI member logos • Customizable, downloadable pet-sitter forms • 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 • Assistance with health and supplemental insurance

PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES As a member you can increase and demonstrate your knowledge as a pet-care business owner. Resources and opportunities include: • Pet Sitter’s World magazine • Free live and on-demand webinars • The PSI Blog • Discounted rates on PSI’s online courses • Discounted rate on PETSIT PRO • Opportunity to earn the CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® designation

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, members-only Facebook group • Pet Sitter World, PSI’s annual in-person conference • FOCUS, PSI’s one-day online summit for pet sitters and dog walkers • PSI-Registered Networks • PSI’s Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

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

40 www.petsit.com

Things to post about on social media: January, February & March 2024 Below is a list of pet-related observances you can highlight on your company’s social media pages this quarter. Plus, you can view the yearlong list on the PSI website at petsit.com/2024-pet-holidays.

January 2024

February 2024

March 2024

National Train Your Dog Month

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month

Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month

Walk Your Dog Month/Walk Your Pet Month

National Pet Dental Health Month

Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Adopt a Rescued Bird Month

Dog Training Education Month

Responsible Pet Owners Month National Cat Health Month International Hoof Care Month Spay/Neuter Awareness Month • February 2: National Hedgehog Day; Groundhog Day • February 3: National Golden Retriever Day; Doggy Date Night • February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week • February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day

• March 1: National Pig Day; National Horse Protection Day

• February 18-24: National Justice for Animals Week

• March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day

• February 20: Love Your Pet Day • February 22: Walking the Dog Day • February 23: National Dog Biscuit Day • January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day • January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day • January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day • January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day • January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day

• February 27: World Spay Day

• March 3: World Wildlife Day • March 3-9: Professional Pet Sitters Week™ • March 6: Thank Your Pet Sitter Day™ • March 13: K9 Veterans Day • March 14: UK Dog Theft Awareness Day • March 17: PSI’s 30th Birthday • March 17-23: National Poison Prevention Week • March 23: National Puppy Day; Cuddly Kitten Day • March 28: Respect Your Cat Day Don’t forget that PSI also includes free social-media images for members to download and use in each PSI Monthly Member Toolkit.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 41

Professionalism That Doesn’t Include Self-Care is Incomplete

By Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI President

In 2016, I was asked to speak on a panel discussing professionalism in the pet-sitting industry—exploring how we define professionalism, how we can elevate our professionalism, and if there were any threats currently undermining our industry. Without hesitation, I shared that I feared that, if left unaddressed, burnout and compassion fatigue could begin to ruin the stellar reputation the professional pet-sitting industry—including each of you—has worked so hard to achieve.

Now, nearly eight years later (and as I reflect on PSI’s 30th anniversary), I feel more than ever that it’s vital for professional pet-care business owners to understand burnout and compassion fatigue—and to realize that self-care is an important component of professionalism.

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If you’ve been a member for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed that the resources PSI makes available to members extend beyond business tools.

We understand that as a professional pet-care business owner you need easy-to-access business tools and pet-care resources, but you also need advice on juggling personal obligations, finding work-life balance, combatting compassion fatigue and more—all while owning and operating a professional pet-sitting or dog-walking service.

That’s why we’ve worked to make a wide range of resources addressing these issues available through our #petsitterlife initiative—and you can expect to see even more resources in the coming year.

If you haven’t already, create a formal self-care plan for yourself this year—and encourage your team members to do the same. While having an actionable self-care plan does not eliminate stressors in your life (many of which are often beyond your control), it does reduce your vulnerability to stress, which is vital in combatting or working through burnout and/or compassion fatigue.

I recently covered the elements of creating an effective personal self-care plan at PSI’s 2023 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference—but if you did not attend, additional information on implementing a self-care plan will be shared in the next issue of Pet Sitter’s World.

Implement Best Practices

As you plan for the new year, consider these best practices that can help combat burnout and compassion fatigue, but also ensure that your business maintains its professional reputation:

Beth Stultz-Hairston, PSI president, has worked in the pet industry for nearly two decades. She is the editor of Pet Sitter’s World magazine and authored The Professional Pet Sitter’s Startup Guide. Beth received her B.A., English, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has obtained certification as both a Compassion Fatigue Educator and Compassion Fatigue Therapist through the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology.

Learn when (and how) to say, “I’m booked.” You do not have to accept every client who contacts you and you don’t have to take on every pet-sitting request, even if it is from a current client. There’s nothing wrong with trying to honor last-minute requests, particularly if clients have experienced an unforeseen circumstance—but it’s important to recognize your limitations and know how many visits you—or your team—can complete in a day without compromising the care you provide or jeopardizing your health or safety.

When your schedule is overbooked and you are short on time, it’s much easier to make careless mistakes such as forgetting to lock the door behind you or leaving your keys in your car. You may also overlook red flags you would typically catch, such as a broken window or even misplaced items in a client’s home.

Start with Self-Care

When you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t properly care for others and continue offering the quality service that has created the foundation for our industry.

Self-care involves much more than bubble baths and massages or afternoon naps and vacations—although all those things can be considered self-care practices. Pet-sitting business owners can practice self-care by implementing smart policies for their companies and striving for better work-life balance.

To avoid overbooking, it’s important to have an efficient scheduling system in place. Whether you use pet-sitter software—or rely on a written calendar or Excel spreadsheets—make sure you can easily view your schedule at-a-glance and are easily alerted when your schedule is filling up. Also examine your past booking trends so you can forecast your staffing needs for the coming year and be prepared for the busier seasons.

Even with efficient scheduling and forecasting, there will still be times where you simply must turn away a client. In these cases, having a standard procedure is helpful! Have a trusted list of other local professional pet-care providers you can refer pet parents to or direct them to PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator.

Know your limitations in regard to the services you provide and pets you service. Schedule aside, there are other pet-sitting assignments you should turn down because you don’t have the experience and/or they are simply not a good fit. Practicing self-care includes being honest with yourself about what you can and cannot handle. While it’s tempting to try to (continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 43

help every client that requests your services, some services and some pets can put you in danger. For example, unless you have extensive animal-behavior training (and in many cases, even when you do), an aggressive pet can pose a real danger. While you may want to help, consider what would happen if a pet bite or attack seriously injured you.

The physical, financial, and professional implications could destroy your business. Having local trainers, animal behaviorists and/or veterinarians you can refer these potential clients to allows you to still serve as a valuable resource to these pet parents, while also saying “no” to situations that could negatively impact you.

You may also find that pets you were previously able to offer services for become a risk potential for you. I speak with many pet sitters who, due to age, health factors, etc., are no longer comfortable caring for very large dogs—perhaps because they pull or even because the pet sitter fears they could no longer safely lift the dog should an emergency occur. While there are contingency plans you can explore (e.g., using a lift harness, etc.), you should also feel comfortable referring these clients to other care providers who may now be a better fit. Even long-time clients are not worth risking your health or safety!

You may find, too, that specific services begin to have a negative impact on your physical or mental well-being. For example, if you struggle with sleep issues—or simply find that too much time away from home impacts you negatively—overnight visits may be something you decide to no longer offer. You may decide to work to promote “almost overnight visits” with later p.m. and then an early a.m. visit, or simply refer these would-be clients to other providers who do offer overnight sits.

Focus on your health. You may be busy, but make time for your annual check-up, eat healthy, get enough sleep and exercise. Regular doctor visits also help you catch any potential medical issues or injuries early, and you should put your annual checkup on your schedule just as you would a pet-sitting assignment—and stick to it!

Another common health-related issue we often hear about from pet sitters involves poor eating habits due to busy schedules. Meal prepping is one of the best ways to avoid skipping meals or being tempted by the nearest drive thru.

A quick Google search or even searching the #mealprepping hashtag on social-media platforms can yield a plethora of results for easy and tasty meal prep ideas, regardless of your dietary restrictions or preferences (e.g., vegan, gluten-free, low sodium, etc.). Keeping a small cooler in your vehicle to keep your water bottle and perishable snacks cold is also a good idea!

Be mindful of weather conditions as well. Extreme cold or extreme heat can be detrimental to both you and the pets

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in your care. Depending on the season and your local climate, plan your schedule accordingly, either planning walks for times of day that do not expose you to the most extreme heat or cold, or plan alternate activities, such as indoor play. If your service area is one that is often impacted by snow and/or ice, make sure your clients have a snow-removal service secured in their absence (and include this in your contract) so that you do not have to brave unsafe driveways and steps to reach their pets.

In addition to your physical well-being, focus on your mental health as well. Just as with your annual checkup, any needed counselor or therapy appointments should be scheduled and honored, just as you would a client request. If you have any health (physical or mental) concerns, be sure to contact your doctor.

Build a strong support network. This industry has unique challenges, and it’s important to have others who understand the daily joys and struggles of pet sitting. I encourage you to find your community—prioritize this in the very beginning of your pet-care career, but also continue to prioritize it. Even if you have been in this industry for 20 years and have a thriving business, you need a network around you—whether that’s for professional recommendations and referrals, to help you continue your education, or just to have a friend who understands what you do.

Network with local pet sitters, as well as other pet professionals and small business owners in your area. Having others in your local community that you can connect with face-to-face is invaluable. While it does not take the place of local networking, you can greatly expand your network and your support system by connecting with other pet-care professionals around the globe. To meet others outside your area, take advantage of opportunities like PSI’s annual conference and PSI’s private Facebook group, or other online pet-focused groups. When I suggest online networking, I’m always careful to mention one caveat—I am a huge supporter of online pet-sitter groups and other groups related to the pet industry, but just as you can’t believe everything you read online, you also can’t believe everything you read in online pet professional groups. A lot of misinformation is shared online (even from well-intentioned fellow pet-care professionals), so be mindful of that when you are asking questions and sharing advice in these groups—and always reach out the experts for specific questions, such as insurance, veterinary advice, etc.

A supportive community is key to thriving in this industry.

There’s likely nothing you’ll experience in your pet-sitting business that has not been experienced by another pet sitter before—and having another pet sitter offer advice or just kind words is invaluable! 

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PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 45

Best Practices for Building Your Dog-Walking Business

By Michelle Kline, DogCo Launch

Looking around the Zoom call at my new DogCo Launch Mastermind cohort, I asked the question, “What would it look like to run 100 appointments a day in your business?”

We discussed how many staff you might need, what that type of volume spread across a day looks like, and what processes you need in place.

When the conversation slowed to a halt, I leveraged my next question… “Now, what would it look like to run 100 dog-walking appointments a day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.?”

Dog-walking businesses are unique in the sense that while they may not be running more appointments overall, they are usually running a higher amount of volume during a much smaller window of time. As an example, in a full-service business you may have 4-5 staff in the field at a time; a dog-walking business of the same size may have 15-18 staff in the field at once—just to cover the same number of daily appointments.

To run a business at this volume efficiently, there are certain practices that will benefit you greatly. In this article, I’ll be focusing on two of the most important ones: standardizing your services and utilizing a team model.

Standardizing Your Services When you are running a high volume of appointments in a short time frame, it’s important that your services are standardized. Standardizing your services simply means that things are done in the same way for every service consistently. This includes the order in which services are rendered, the training given to staff, and the way that clients’ preferences and instructions are captured and documented for staff.

The first benefit of standardizing your services is that you’ll create a clear-cut expectation from clients of what will happen at every appointment. This expectation-setting is important because it builds trust between the clients and the business. This business model is

driven by trust and relationships, so we want to stack the odds in our favor by building trust into every transaction.

The second benefit of standardizing your services is that your staff will have clear-cut expectations of what they should do at every appointment. It is virtually impossible to hold your staff accountable if you have not clearly defined the job for them—and part of clearly defining the job is defining out every aspect of what a staff member should be doing at all times (i.e., standardizing).

The third benefit of standardizing your services is that you will increase overall safety for the team. By standardizing your services, you’ll be able to maximize practices in your business that prioritize the safety of your team and hold team members accountable for those practices.

Michelle Kline is the founder of DogCo Launch, where she helps other companies grow and scale their pet care businesses.

Until the recent sale, Michelle was the owner of Venture Dog Walking, a daily dog walking company in Winston-Salem, NC, that Michelle tripled in size after transitioning from full-service pet care to daily dog walking during the pandemic.

Utilizing a Team Model The next best practice for building a dog-walking business is to utilize a team model for your business. When you are running a high volume of appointments in a short time frame, you need to have control over the schedule.

The only way to fully have control over the schedule is to be able to send whoever makes the most sense for your team.

“Whoever makes the most sense” can be determined by a multitude of factors— what makes the most sense for route mapping, where your staff member personally lives, when a certain staff member is available to work, etc. Utilizing a team model is also one of the best ways to influence your labor costs. If you pay hourly, for example, prioritizing route mapping is a significant way to reduce costs in your business.

Standardizing your services and utilizing a team model go hand-in-hand. When your services are standardized, it is much easier to utilize a team model as your systems and processes are set up to support your staff and the functions of the business.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 47

PSI Member Roundtable:

The Changing Needs Meet our roundtable participants:

Beatrice Aucoin Cat Mom Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Jennifer Betts Run and Play Silver Spring, Maryland

Kelly Hall Kelly’s Pet Sitting, LLC Medford, Oregon The world has changed rapidly over the past few years—for both professional pet sitters and the rest of society. The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in the evolution, no doubt, with pet sitters and dog walkers in particular feeling the effects of the rise in pet adoption, changes in travel habits, remote work trends, anxious pets, etc.

We asked four PSI members to share their experiences related to the changing needs of clients—and how they’re responding.

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Susan Gary Top Dog Pet Sitters McKinney, Texas

of Pet Parents Have you noticed changes in what clients expect or request in recent years?

Beatrice: I look after cats exclusively. There are three things I can think of for my own business in recent years: 1) More and more of my newer clients have cats with complex medical conditions. 2) I’ve had an uptick of clients who are new to Calgary, which is where I have my business. Calgary is one of the major cities in Canada, so people often migrate here. 3) A small but burgeoning new bit of business is helping out clients recovering from a medical condition or surgery with scooping and taking out litter waste.

Kelly: More overnight requests for dogs compared to pre-COVID. I enjoy doing overnights (in client homes) so this is great for my business. I also see more pet parents being anxious about their pets being alone for any period of time resulting in more people using my hourly service in motels, Airbnb’s.

Susan: After COVID more pet parents were asking for extended care.

The number of cats and dogs that had been adopted during COVID and the months following was just crazy high. Of course, these pets had never been left alone. So, the demand for extended pet care increased.

Jennifer: Since coming into the makings of our post-COVID new normal, the biggest request we’ve had from existing clients is to text prior to arrival. At present about 55% of our visits remain daily clients where at least one partner still works from home several to most days. Additionally, several clients had children during the epidemic. Given busy work schedules, Zoom calls, and nap

By Meghann Evans, PSI Education & Outreach Manager

times, giving the heads up is quite helpful for all of us, and folks are grateful for being provided enough notice to prepare and plan for our arrival.

The next greatest change I see is coming from potential clients who are requesting [dog-walking] visits 1-2 times per week. We have always had a 3x/week minimum and have maintained that with the exception of one client from our pre-COVID roster; however, she lives on the same street as two other clients.

Lastly, boarding was the service that helped to keep us afloat during COVID. With each decrease in cases, people would plan trips and many of these people, though not walking clients for us, continue on for boarding.

How are you responding/adjusting your business to meet these needs?

Beatrice: 1) I’ve always kept up my pet first aid certification, but working frequently and closely with cats who need various kinds of daily medication and/or monitoring has allowed me to keep those skills fresh. I also have learned new cat care skills like how to give insulin to and use an asthma inhaler on a cat. Clients who have cats with medical conditions that need medication appreciate the assurance that I know pet first aid, how to administer a variety of medications, signs to watch for that their cats may not be doing well, and when to seek medical attention for their cats. They also appreciate me communicating clearly how their cats are doing on a visit and confirmation I gave their cats their meds on schedule. These clients really appreciate my work and care,

and they understand the value I bring as a professional cat sitter.

2) Many times, I’m the first professional in any animal care industry new residents have met here, so me having a strong grasp of animal-related services in my catchment area is important. I’m often asked about vets, location of the nearest animal emergency hospital, and pet supply stores. It was similar during the height of COVID where a lot of people adopted animals for the first time, and I’d be asked about those sorts of resources. 3) As someone who has had extensive surgeries because of breast cancer and knows firsthand about physical limitations during recoveries, I’m happy to help out clients who need assistance with litter maintenance while they recover.

Kelly: I already offered overnights in clients’ homes since I started my business 12 years ago. Since the demand increased, I added a staff member who was available to do overnights. Any requests we couldn’t do I refer to a network of pet sitters in my area.

Susan: We’ve always offered overnight care, but we added 12-hour care and 24-hour care. We have employees so it’s a costly service, but clients love and appreciate it. With the cost of living being high, most of our employees have a full-time job.

Many of them work remotely. They can work their full-time job while providing 12-hour care and 24-hour care. It’s a great fit.

Jennifer: We adjusted by texting rather than updating visit notes in the system as folks may not always have immediate access to email. In several instances, we have changed visit times to coordinate with recurring meeting or nap times. (continued) PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 49

While this is certainly an extra step for walkers, it does help them plan their days more efficiently and intentionally.

I make very clear the guidelines on texting which are to only use the thread I create which includes the client’s identified household members (i.e., au pairs, babysitters, in office partners) and that texting clients is only used for purposes of providing visit ETAs. I am fortunate that my sitters have all been with me for some time (5-7 years) and all of whom I trust emphatically.

Like many of us, I had anticipated there would have been a more robust rate of folks having returned to the office by this date; however, that does not appear likely in the immediate future. My reluctance on the 1-2/week visits was 1) the potential for cancellations not making it cost effective and 2) the hope that 3-5 requests would eventually bounce back. Again, given that change has yet to be on the horizon, I am now taking on a 2/week client who either lives on the same street or in close enough proximity and ability to walk with another dog; or where the client can pay for the minimum 8 visits per month with no cancellations or refunds.

Clients do understand you need to run a business and if one can’t get onboard, others will, especially if your reputation precedes you.

With regards to boarding, it is still the greatest new request I receive each month. However, we are now for the most part not taking on new boards and relying on the boarding needs of existing/long term pups that we know already get along and can best assign together.

What factor(s) do you consider when determining whether to adjust your services to meet client needs/requests or refer them to a different pet-care provider?

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Beatrice: I’ve been asked a few times to care for species I have no experience with and wouldn’t have the time to do the professional learning on before the booking would start. Those I refer out to pet sitters who do have the experience and background knowledge with those species.

Apart from that, my main considerations are if I have the time in my schedule for the booking request, how what’s being asked of me matches my skill set, and is what’s being asked of me something I can reasonably do in the scope of a 30- to 40-minute visit. Sometimes, I feel a complex medical request is better suited for a pet sitter who is also a vet tech. For example, I had one booking request come in that was asking for a sitter to draw blood from a cat regularly for inhome testing. That seems best in the hands of someone who is highly trained in doing that work, and I was able to give this person a list of local pet sitter vet techs.

Kelly: When I get requests for boarding, I refer them to a local kennel. None of the pet sitters I network with do boarding in their homes. I do offer boarding in my home to a few of my clients that I know well.

Susan: Do we have the staff to meet a new need? What would the price structure look like? Is it a service we feel committed to offer? How would we promote it?

Jennifer: The factors considered when taking on new clients or nondaily clients have never changed aside from the above mentioned. At the end of the day, it always comes down to my gut feelings towards a client and if I feel comfortable working with them and they are agreeable with our guidelines and if their pups are manageable and have solid dispositions.

Do you anticipate any new trends in client requests/needs in 2024?

Beatrice: The biggest trend I’m noticing in my area is more people choosing quality, professional care for their cats. For the first time in my over five years of professional cat sitting, starting in October, I had to close my books for taking on new clients because I was at capacity.

I won’t be taking on new clients till 2024 and have a waitlist of cat parents who want me as their cat sitter.

A local friend recently became a professional cat sitter, and I am glad to welcome her to the industry because she’s awesome and I’ll have lots of referrals to send her way.

Kelly: I do expect the demand for pet sitting to continue and probably increase since new homes are being built in my area. I also expect more people to feel comfortable enough to start going on cruises again unless there is another COVID surge. I have found this business to be recession-proof since a majority of my clients are upper-middle class.

Susan: I think we will have to see what happens with the economy.

People are having to make choices about how to spend their money.

Hopefully, they will continue to choose pet care.

Jennifer: Up until several months ago, I didn’t think that NEW daily visits would be a thing of the past, but there seems to be much evidence to suggest many folks are giving up more money for manageable lives or not willing to go back to anything resembling the full-time work week. Many are making the switch to pursue jobs that have even greater remote potential than their existing jobs. That said, I think sitters will have to make determinations and similar strategies on how to work with less frequent visits.

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PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 51

Are you taking advantage of your PSI Monthly Member Toolkit?

Each month you receive your Monthly Member Toolkit, which includes: •

A featured member resource— often a pet-sitter form template, client handout or webinar

•

Trending articles to share in your client newsletter and/or on social media

•

A featured article or blog post focused on the month’s toolkit theme

•

Social-media images and sample captions your business can post online

Resources are emailed to you each Monday at the email address associated with your membership.

52 www.petsit.com

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

How Do You Determine Employee Pay? You know what you offer clients—but have you given thought to what you can offer staff sitters?

First, you need to determine the salary you can offer. This will depend on many factors, including your business expenses and cost of staffing (for example, required benefits, training costs, etc.). You’ll need to be aware of any minimum wage requirement and also consider the salaries offered for comparable jobs in your area. A little compensation planning goes a long way!

In PSI’s recent Pet-Sitter Staffing & Compensation Survey (2023), we asked PSI members who use staff sitters—specifically employees—what factors they considered when determining their current pay rates.

Respondents were able to indicate multiple considerations.

The responses indicated: • 59% calculated overhead costs to determine what they could afford.

• 46% based staff pay on the minimum wage where they are located.

• 32% researched what their competitors paid staff.

• 18% researched salary information online.

How should you pay staff?

Another consideration is the payment model you will use when paying your team members. In this same survey, we asked PSI members using employees how they paid them.

Here are their responses: • 39% indicated they pay an hourly wage.

• 33% indicated they pay a set amount per visit.

• 17% indicated they pay a percentage of each visit.

• 11% selected “Other.”

The most common comments from members who selected “Other” were that they paid either an hourly or set amount, plus mileage; or they selected “Other” to note that their answer varies by service. For example, some members indicated they paid a set amount for regular pet-sitting visits but paid a percentage for additional services.

How much are staff members being paid?

71 members who indicated they pay a “set amount per visit” provided their payment for a 30-minute visit. The average set amount payment per visit based on the information shared by these members was $11.74 for a 30-minute visit.

Keep in mind, this average is based off limited data, and many members indicated this was their starting point—and paid team members more the longer they were with the company.

41 members who indicated they pay a “percentage of each visit” provided information on the percentage they paid. The percentages paid per visit ranged from 30% to 70%, and the average of the answers provided was 52.5% of each visit. Many of these members also indicated the percentage they provided was a starting point and increased based on employee performance and longevity with the company.

98 members who indicated they paid an hourly wage provided additional data on the amount they pay. While some indicated a range, we used their lowest hourly rate in our calculations to determine an average starting pay. Hourly rates shared ranged from $9/hour to $26/ hour, and the average of the answers provided was $16.85/hour.  ——Excerpted from PSI’s Hiring Guide for Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers online course & downloadable guide

Diversity and Inclusion Resources for PSI Member Businesses PSI’s motto is “pet-sitting excellence through education,” and we understand that education also plays a pivotal role in the promotion of more diversity and inclusion in our industry and in members’ individual businesses.

PSI is pleased to assist in providing resources that can help professional pet sitters educate themselves on these important issues as they impact our industry and small businesses.

petsit.com/dei The resources available to members at petsit.com/DEI explore a variety of issues related to diversity and equitable treatment in workplaces and small businesses.

On this same page you can also view PSI’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policies.

We encourage members to adopt and actively implement similar policies in their pet-care businesses.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 53

Certification Announcements

Congratulations to these PSI members who have rec ently earned the designation of CPPS-Certified Pro fessional Pet Sitter®:

GERILYNNE BAIEI MyLuvFurYou Jacksonville, FL VICKIE BERNARDWA Spokane, WA TONI BOWEN Happy Feet Pet Sitting Montgomery, TX ANNA BROWNSON Wag-N-Ride Sterrett, AL KERI DAVEDIUK Dogs of Vancouver Island Victoria, British Columbia Canada VICKI DELL Wag This Way Pet Sitting LLC Anthem, AZ PATRICIA DUTCHAK ILOMYCA Niverville, Manitoba Canada 54 www.petsit.com

DAPHNE FILIBERTI Daphne’s Dog Walking and Pet Care Services Poway, CA

KAREN JONES JACKLEY 3DogEnterprises LLC Portland, OR

CAROLYN HALL Halls Pet Service Plus Carnegie, PA

BRITTANY LAW Britt’s Buddies Pet Sitting, LLC Burnsville, MN

ETHAN HORN Ethan J Horn, LLC Pittsburgh, PA MORGAN HUBER Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada JENNIFER JASMIN Furriendly Critter Sitters LLC Mims, FL PAIGE JENKINS Guardian Pet Care San Diego, CA

MARY LILLIE Safe Hands Equine & Pet Care, LLC Cartersville, GA PATRICIA LIZZA Agape Pet Haven, LLC Lutz, FL KIMBERLY MAEVERS Fun Fur U - In Home Pet Care, LLC Lancaster, CA COURTNEY MAGYAR Courtney’s Nyc Pups Homosassa, FL

KRISTA MCNAMARA McNamara Pet Sitting Trumbull, CT MARIA MERINGER Bone-A-Fide Pet Sitting Services LLC Belmont, NC SHANDRA PARKS Paws With Parks Cleveland, OH STEPHANIE PATE Safe At Home Pet Sitting & Home Care Southaven, MS MARLENE REED Fin & Diggers Pet Sitting Plainview, TX CYNTHIA RICHARDS Peace of Mind Pets RVA, LLC Midlothian, VA

MARA RUTH Loved By Us Santa Cruz Pet Sitting & Dog Walking, LLC Santa Cruz, CA JESSICA STEVENSON Toronto, Ontario Canada KATHLEEN THORPE WATERMAN Affordable Pet Sitting Pawtucket, RI

KELLY CATLETT Waggs 2 Whiskers, LLC Bagdad, KY DEBORAH CLARK Oceanair Pet Care Waynesville, NC WENDY COLLINS Wendy Collins Pet Sitting LLC Summerfield, NC

DELANEY VINSON Wild Iris Pet Sitting Fairbanks, AK

KIM DAWSON Auntie Kim’s Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Allentown, PA

JAMES WISE Wise Pet Services Boise, ID

Congratulations also to these members for renewing their CPPS® designation for an additional three years: JAN ARCHER The Sitter of Pawz, LLC Saginaw, TX KIMBERLY-JO BELLIS Chickens to Kittens, LLC Allentown, PA

CLAUDIA HOFFMANN No More Worries Pet Concierge, LLC Robbinsville, NJ

COLLEEN ROBLES Santa Barbara Pet Pals, LLC Santa Barbara, CA

ANNIE HUFF Paws And Pillows Waltham, MA

JENNIFER SKOWRONEK Furryornot Petcare Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada

KRISTEN JOHNSON For The Love Of Pets – Delaware Newark, DE KIMBERLEY KEYS Outdoor Dog Adventures, LLC Louisville, KY BUNNY LANE Cierras Paw Pals Novato, CA

BRENDA SNELL Home And Pet Nanny Service Seattle, WA DEBBIE SOLIS Personal Pet & Home Care, Inc. Dallas, TX

ALISON LEE Redondo Beach, CA

LISA STACY Critter Sitter of VA Fredericksburg, VA

PAMELA MORGAN Nanny Pam Federal Way, WA

JONI SULLIVAN Joan of Ark Pet Sitting Rockland, MA

ACADIA FROST Mainely Sitters Brunswick, ME

JARRETT NICHOLSON Duck & Turtle Pet and Home Care Albuquerque, NM

BARBARA VENEN BlueHound Pet Care, LLC Bahama, NC

JEANETTE FROST Pet Sitters of Maine Phippsburg, ME

LINDA OWENS Harmony Pets, LLC North Charleston, SC

LAURA HEATWOLE Red Waggin Pets The Colony, TX

SUSAN REAVER PetWatch TLC Butte, MT

KAREN HELMS The Pet Set Lewisville, TX

LAURIE ROBINSON Rover’s Recess Inc Valparaiso, IN

LAUREN DUNKLE The Pet Lady, Ltd. Villa Park, IL

ASHLEY WOODRUFF Happy Paws Upstate, LLC Simpsonville, SC

CONNIE BRITAIN Connie’s Pet Sitting Artesia, NM

JAN BROWN Jan’s Pet Sitting, LLC Foster City, CA

MONICA FALCON Paws & Love Trujillo Alto Puerto Rico

JACQUIE WILSON Simply Fetching Traverse City, MI MERCEDA WINDER Forty Paws Pet Sitting Royse City, TX

Make 2024 the year you become a Certified Professional Pet Sitter®!

Contact education@petsit.com for more information.

PSW | Jan-Mar 2024 55

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

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Columbus, WI Permit # 73

www.petsit.com

Celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week!

March 3-9 marks the 30th annual observance of Professional Pet Sitters Week™—a

week that’s all about YOU and the professional services you provide. Use this week to promote your business, highlight your commitment to professionalism and share why pet parents should only use the services of a professional pet-care business.

Visit petsit.com/ppsweek to download your Professional Pet Sitters Week Media Kit. 56 www.petsit.com