Take Your Dog To Work Day® Creator Says It's Okay to Leave Pets at Home

Aug. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- On June 24, thousands of businesses across the United States and abroad opened their doors to employees’ dogs in celebration of Pet Sitters International’s 13th annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® (TYDTWDay®).

While thousands of workers around the globe enjoyed a fun-filled day of puppy kisses and tail wags to celebrate dogs and promote pet adoption, most working pet owners are unable to take their dogs—or any pets—to the office. Pet Sitters International (PSI), the event creator, urges pet owners to look to professional pet sitters when company policies, long work days or vacations prevent them from being with their pets.

According to PSI’s 2011 State of the Industry Survey, PSI’s member pet-sitting businesses service more than 740,000 pet-owning households and perform more than 18.5 million pet-sitting visits each year.

“Professional pet sitters provide peace of mind for pet owners by letting them leave their pets in the comforts of home while they travel for work or pleasure,” said Scott Black, 2010 Pet Sitter of the Year™ and owner of Personal Touch Pet Sitting in Kingwood, Texas. “My service also offers pet transportation for grooming or veterinary appointments when pet owners are unable to leave work.”

PSI’s 2011 State of the Industry Survey also found that, like Black, other PSI member businesses are offering added services to meet the needs of increasingly busy pet owners. More than 62 percent of PSI pet sitters offer pet transportation in addition to basic pet care and dog walking visits; and nearly 60 percent also offer overnight pet-sitting visits to accommodate traveling pet owners who do not want their homes left unoccupied.

PSI recommends that any pet owner who needs the services of a professional pet sitter interview the sitter in advance and ask for proof of credentials, including:

•   insurance and bonding
•   background check
•   education or training, such as PSI’s Certification Program
•   client references.

“Discriminating pet owners now have more qualified pet-care options than were available a decade ago,” said Patti Moran, PSI president and industry pioneer. “Instead of depending on family members or relying on a neighborhood teen, pet owners can easily secure the services of professional sitters with the experience and training to handle any situation that may arise when the owners are away.”

To locate a PSI member pet-sitting business in your area, visit the Official Pet Sitter Locator at http://www.petsit.com/locate. To learn more about PSI or the pet-sitting industry visit http://www.petsit.com.

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Established in 1994, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, representing nearly 7,500 independent professional pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and abroad.