489: Impacting the Pet Industry with the Florida Pet Services Association

Pet Sitter Confessional

Heidi Lewis-Pracko and Savanna Westwood, from the Florida Pet Services Association (FPSA), discuss the organization's mission to connect and support pet service businesses in Florida and beyond. They highlight their first aid kit initiative, which provides basic supplies to homeless pet owners and is expanding to shelters and hurricane preparedness. The upcoming FPSA Summit will be held in Naples at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center in August 22-24 2024, offering educational speakers, activities, and networking opportunities. Attendees will gain valuable industry insights and explore the renovated center's exhibits and trails. They each underscore the importance of community collaboration for the pet services industry to thrive and improve care standards.

Main topics:

• Learning from feedback

• Expanding the Association

• Planning the summit

• Giving back to the community

Main takeaway: As the pet care industry continues to grow and expand, this means more potential for business and impacting people's lives, but also more scrutiny and attention.

About the Florida Pet Services Association

Florida Pet Services Association is a 501C3 comprised of companies that provide professional pet services in Florida. All members of FPSA are required to be a legal business, and be insured. Mission Statement: To promote professionalism, provide elite education and create and connect professional relationships in the pet industry in the state of Florida. Vision Statement: To promote the highest level of excellence in the pet industry and advancement of pet care standards in the state of Florida.

About the Board of Directors:

Savanna Westwood

“Hello! I am Savanna Owner and Founder of The Savvy Sitter, Pet Sitting and Dog Walking, LLC. I have grown up with animals all my life and enjoy spending time with them. I have lived in the Winter Garden and Windermere Area for over 30 Years. Though I do not have any animals myself, I love taking care of them and giving them the cuddles, playtime, and treats they deserve. I am an active equestrian, big dogs and horses do not frighten me. When I am not taking care of your Fur Friends, you can find me reading, practicing archery, riding, and figuring out ways to provide additional and great services to our clients!”

Doug Keeling

“I’m Doug the Dog Guy, and I’m the owner and founder of Bad to the Bone Pet Care. I began pet sitting and dog walking in the Fall of 2013 because I missed my childhood best friend, a Jack Russell named Skip, and because I wanted to combine my passions for animal welfare and entrepreneurship. Bad to the Bone Pet Care was born in 2014, and we have since had the privilege of working with thousands of pets across Northeast and Central Florida. We have won multiple awards for our premium-level professional pet sitting and dog walking, including Pet Sitter of the Year 2023, Best Jacksonville Dog Walking Company 2018-2022, and Best Pet Sitting Service in Northeast Florida 2016 & 2017. I tell everyone I meet, “this is a dream come true for a dream I didn’t know I had.”

Amber Van Denzen Suarez

“Amber is the founder of Atta Boy! Animal Care. She has been working in the animal field for over 16 years. She started in the field by working in the horse industry – stable hand and pet sitter. She then trained as a local Veterinary Kennel hand, Veterinary Assistant and then an Emergency Veterinary Technician for both small and large animals for over 13 years. She has a bachelors of Animal Science from University of Florida.”

Heidi Lewis-Pracko

“Throughout my childhood, the running joke was always, “Where’s Heidi? She’s probably with the dogs.” In 4th grade, my family adopted our Welsh Corgi, Angel - the light of my life all the way into college. When she passed away, I was devastated. Luckily for me, 4 months later, we brought another Corgi into the family. I named her Hope, because she was doing exactly that, bringing hope to our family. Thus...Heidi & Hope Pet Services! My true passion came when I began pet sitting on the weekends. Pet sitting showed me the rewards of getting to work with animals one-on-one. I LOVE being the only one to care for people’s pets and being relied upon to do so. I finally made the full-time move to Naples in 2016, where I feel lucky every day getting to live in the place that I vacationed all the time growing up. I immediately got into pet sitting upon my move and the rest is history!”

Links:

Donate to the Association

https://www.facebook.com/FLPetServices

https://www.instagram.com/flpetassociation/

[e-mail]

FlPetAssociation.Org

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Full show notes and transcript

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