Pet Sitters International Names Amy Munns 2026 Pet Sitter of the Year™
Washington state pet-care business owner will represent the professional pet-sitting industry throughout 2026
KING, N.C. (January 5, 2026)—Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational association for professional pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners, has named Amy Munns, owner of Leash4Lease, Inc., in Poulsbo, Washington, as the 2026 Pet Sitter of the Year™.
Presented annually, PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year Award recognizes one member who exemplifies exceptional professionalism, pet-care expertise, and a commitment to PSI’s Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses. The award is considered the highest honor in the professional pet-sitting industry.
“PSI’s membership includes some of the most passionate, dedicated, and highly educated pet-care business owners in the industry, which makes selecting an annual award recipient no easy task,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “Amy’s longevity in the industry, commitment to continuing education, and deeply personal approach to her business make her an outstanding representative of our profession and a role model for fellow pet sitters and dog walkers.”
As PSI’s 2026 Pet Sitter of the Year, Munns will serve as an ambassador for the professional pet-sitting industry throughout the year and will be formally recognized at PSI’s 2026 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference this November in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Munns has a Bachelor of Arts in Business and a Master of Science in Industrial Organization Psychology. She transitioned from a corporate career in 2001, choosing to apply her professional experience and academic background to building her own pet-care business. That same year, she founded Leash4Lease, Inc. and joined Pet Sitters International. In 2019, she earned the CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter® designation.
Today, Munns leads a team of 10 employees and provides pet-sitting and dog-walking services to approximately 150 clients throughout Kitsap County. Her company is known for its highly personal approach to customer service and strong community involvement, including handwritten client notes and support of local youth sports teams. She also draws from her nearly 25 years of industry experience to offer advice and support to fellow pet-care professionals.
Munns shared that she is deeply honored to receive this award and plans to use her platform in the coming year to encourage and connect with other pet-care professionals.
“In 2026, I want to focus on celebrating all that we, as individual business owners, do and are,” explained Munns. “Small, independent businesses are the backbone of our communities, and we deserve to celebrate who we are and what we’ve built.”
The other top five finalists for the 2026 Pet Sitter of the Year Award were:
- MiKayla Anders, Adventures in Pet Sitting, Salina, Kansas
- Cynthia Hess, Your Fairy Catmother, Temple, Pennsylvania
- Michelle Hilaire, 4 Pet’s Sake Pet Care, La Plata, Maryland
- Maris Sonnabend, House of Paws Pet Care, Eureka, Missouri
To learn more about PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year™ Award, locate a PSI professional pet sitter, or explore pet sitting as a career, visit the PSI website at www.petsit.com. To learn more about Amy Munns and Leash4Lease, Inc., visit https://www.leash4lease.com/.
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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.
