In this episode, I’m talking to Jessica Abernathy who is a pet sitting industry expert and current president of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). Jessica has a ton of great stories to share about getting started as a pet sitter and what she wishes she did differently from the beginning. One thing she wishes she knew about sooner is NAPPS! I was so interested to hear about the wealth of info and resources they offer to their members including certification for pet sitters and also a pet parent membership level.
Jessica also talks about the number one thing that prevents most people from growing their pet industry business. It might not be what you think it is! Listen to find out.
About Jessica Abernathy
Jessica Abernathy is the “Original Pet Sitter” in the Greater Chicago area, caring for all pets, big and small, like they are her own.
Before starting her pet sitting business in 2008, Jessica was the owner of a successful hair salon in Chicago. Every so often, a client would ask her to watch their pets over long weekends. Those requests became more frequent and before she knew it Jessica’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and Professional Pet Sitters, Inc. was formed.
Jessica is a big proponent of continued education in the pet industry and is often appearing on podcasts or local and national programming. In 2012, Jessica joined the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) and is now the current President. Her mission is to educate pet sitters to fortify professionalism in the pet sitting industry.
The love of Jessica’s life is her dog, Teddy, a rescue who has as big of a social media following as his owner!
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
- Jessica’s life before joining the pet industry
- What Jessica would have done differently with her business if she had a do-over
- Educational resources that NAAPS offers
- Certification requirements to be a pet sitter
- Pet sitting vs dog walking
Resources Mentioned:
- DogTV
- Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima
Where to find Jessica:
- Website: Professionalpetsittersinc.com
- Website: Petsitters.org
- Website: petnannycoach.com
- Facebook: Amazing Teddy
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