NATIONAL PROFESSION PET SITTERS WEEK
Pet-sitters International promotes the first full week in March as National Professional Pet Sitters Week. The week recognizes professional pet sitters around the world and thanks them for their hard work and dedication during the past year. The week is also an educational week to show the advantages of professional in-home pet care.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 64,000 more pet sitters will be needed in the U.S by 2026. It says that’s a much better job outlook than average job growth. By 2026, pet care employment is expected to grow 22 percent.
The growth is anticipated because many people consider their pets to be a part of their family and are willing to pay more for pet care than they have in the past. As more households include companion pets, employment of animal care and service workers in the pet services industry will continue to grow.¹
The National Association of Pet Sitters is another group where professional pet sitters assemble and promote the services of a professional pet sitter. Discover their infographics here.
The National Association of Pet Sitters will help you locate a nearby professional pet sitter. Where ever you get your professional pet sitter, the Association encourages these steps:
1. Call the pet sitters, or if possible, visit their websites to review their rates, services, and service areas, and make sure they can provide the type of service you need.
2. Develop a set of questions then conduct a thorough interview.
3. Get references and ask them the questions relevant to you.
4. Make sure your potential professional sitter has insurance.
5. Invite the pet sitter to your home to see how they get along with your pet.
HOW TO OBSERVE #ProfessionalPetSittersWeek
Pet owners can send cards, flowers, or gifts to their favorite professional pet sitters.
Investigate the career options of professional pet sitting, one of the fastest-growing career fields in the U.S.
Follow the week on social media with the hashtag #nationalprofessionalpetsittersweek or #petsitting.
NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERS WEEK HISTORY
Pet Sitters International introduced Professional Pet Sitters Week in 1995 to honor its professional pet-sitting members, who offer quality, dependable care to clients’ pets year-round. This annual observance is also a time to highlight the viability of pet sitting as a rewarding—and profitable—career option.
Resources:
¹United States Department of Labor
