2024 One-Day Online Summit for Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
PSI's FOCUS one-day online summit for pet sitters and dog walkers offers you an affordable, convenient opportunity to learn from industry experts and network with fellow pet-care professionals—all from your computer, phone or iPad! This year's summit takes place on Wednesday, March 6.
Registration for the 2024 event is now closed, but you can purchase the session recordings.
Purchase FOCUS 2024 Session Recordings.
FOCUS 2024 Agenda
One Day. 4 Sessions. All focused on Senior Pet Care.
Please note that all times listed below are in Eastern Standard Time.
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: What You Should Know about Dental Health in Senior Pets, Dr. Heidi Lobprise
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Old Dogs, New Tricks, Sydney Queen
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Gentle Goodbyes: Supporting Pets and Owners During Palliative and Hospice Care, Gail Pope & Karen Wylie, Animal Hospice Group
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Friends for Life: Caring for Senior Felines, Tabitha Kucera, Chirrups & Chatter
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.: Summit Wrap Up + Prize Giveaway immediately following last session
Note for Certified Professional Pet Sitters: CPPSs participating in FOCUS can receive 2 CEUs per session attended. For live sessions attended, you will receive a certificate of completion that you will need to submit to PSI to be awarded your CEUs.
If you are unable to attend the live sessions to earn CEUs, you can also watch the replay and submit a brief quiz for those sessions to earn CEUs. The deadline to request CEUs for session replays is 9/15/24. If you have any questions, please email education@petsit.com.
Meet this year's FOCUS 2024 speakers:
Tabitha Kucera
Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free and Low Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, CCBC, and KPA-CTP. She is the owner of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training in Cleveland, Ohio. Her teaching credentials include lecturing on the regional and national level and lecturing at multiple veterinary technology programs. She is a Fear Free certified speaker, a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant, a behavior consultant for Cat Pawsitive Pro, and host of the podcast, Tails from a Vet Tech. She currently serves on the board of Pet Professional Guild’s Cat Committee and is the President of the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. Tabitha has helped to develop training and behavior programs for various veterinary hospitals and shelters and works as a consultant for many shelters and private veterinary practices.
Heidi Lobprise
Dr. Heidi Lobprise graduated from Texas A & M University in 1983 and became a board-certified veterinary dentist in 1993. In 2003, she joined the Veterinary Specialty Team of Pfizer Animal Health, and in 2010, she became the Senior Technical Manager for Virbac Corporation. In 2014, Dr. Lobprise returned to dental specialty practice in 2014 in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author/coauthor of three dental texts, including the second edition of Five Minute Veterinary Consult – Clinical Companion Small Animal Dentistry, has written many chapters and articles and has lectured internationally.
Gail Pope
Gail Pope, with over 30 years of experience in animal healthcare, is the President and Founder of BrightHaven Center for Animal Rescue, Hospice and Holistic Education in California. She has paved the way in the field of animal hospice and palliative care, being present at over 600 animal deaths and providing a holistic approach to senior and special needs animals. She is a cofounder of Animal Hospice Group, a certification program for allied animal care practitioners and veterinary professionals to learn better end-of-life skills to support pet parents and is a member their training faculty. An international consultant and author of seven books, Gail’s expertise has made her a renowned figure in the industry.
Karen Wylie
Karen Wylie, MEd, EdD, CAHP, is a lifelong business educator and consultant who has a deep passion for animals. Her journey of caring for a diverse range of animal companions, including purebred Birman cats, Rough Collies, and Quarter Horses, as well as active involvement in Golden Retriever Rescue, ignited her commitment to improving the lives of pets in their final stages. With training and certifications in both human and companion animal death, dying, and bereavement, Karen has become a dedicated advocate for enhancing hospice care for aging and terminally ill pets. She currently serves as the Director of BrightHaven Caregiver Academy for pet parents and holds the position of Executive Director of Animal Hospice Group.
Sydney Queen
Sydney Queen began her career in animal welfare at a local shelter in 2014 in Adoptions, Operations and Behavior, later joining the ASPCA's Behavioral Sciences Team in 2019. She has her master's degree in International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law, as well as her Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) certification and her Certified in Shelter Behavior-Dog designation (CSB-D certification through IAABC) .
Thank you to our 2024 FOCUS sponsor!
Business Insurers of the Carolinas has been providing General Liability Insurance specifically designed for pet sitters since 1995. BIC’s coverage includes the broadest Care, Custody or Control coverage for the pets and property in your care whether at your client’s home, in transit or at your home.
BIC also provides bonding designed specifically for professional pet sitters, as well as workers' compensation and commercial auto coverage.
PSI members can take advantage of a special group rate.
Please note: BIC is located in N.C., but can write policies in all 50 U.S. states.
For a free insurance quote, contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas at 1 (800) 962-4611 or at http://www.psi-ins.com/.
Be sure to mention if you are a PSI member or considering PSI membership so they can share what the group rate would be!
