PSI to highlight industry best practices for 10th annual Pet Sitter Safety Month™
The association is providing new trainings and highlighting important safety precautions pet sitters and dog walkers can take throughout the year.
KING, N.C. (April 27, 2026) — This May for its 10th annual Pet Sitter Safety Month™, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is encouraging professional pet sitters and dog walkers to review their company policies as well as industry best practices to ensure they have the right precautions in place to protect people and pets.
PSI, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers, created Pet Sitter Safety Month in 2017 to highlight the importance of promoting safe practices for today’s professional pet sitters and dog walkers.
“While professional pet sitters and dog walkers prioritize safety throughout the year, we like to encourage them to take a fresh look at their pet-sitting practices each May,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “By taking advantage of the trainings and resources available to them, pet-sitting business owners can stay up to date on the latest best practices for keeping team members and the pets in their care safe.”
During this year’s Pet Sitter Safety Month, PSI will host its next FOCUS Online Summit on May 6, focused on safety. Sessions will cover how to spot hidden dangers in clients’ homes, recognize early behavioral signals for potential dog bites, identify dangerous pet toys, and safeguard physical and mental well-being.
Pet sitters and dog walkers can visit the Pet Sitter Safety Month section on petsit.com to access safety tips and resources, and the association will be sharing safety tips on Facebook and Instagram throughout the month.
“The observance also falls right before the busy summer vacation season,” Stultz-Hairston added, “so it’s the perfect time for pet sitters to review their policies and also their training practices—if they have staff—then make any adjustments needed for a safe, fun summer.”
PSI places an emphasis on safety well beyond the monthlong observance. Best safety practices to ensure the wellbeing of pet sitters and the pets in their care are incorporated throughout PSI’s Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses, released last fall.
“All industries have best practices for safety, and professional pet sitting is no different,” Stultz-Hairston said. “With the right practices in place, professional pet sitters and dog walkers can build profitable, safe and rewarding careers.”
For more information on Pet Sitter Safety Month, visit www.petsit.com/safety. To learn more about PSI or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com/locate.
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About Pet Sitters International
Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. For more than three decades, PSI has set the benchmark for excellence in the pet-sitting profession and is the creator of the first publicly available Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses. With members across the United States, Canada, and more than 15 other countries, PSI continues to elevate the industry and provide members with access to the educational resources and business tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving field.
