Pet Sitters International names 2019 Pet Sitter of the Year

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Press release: Pet Sitters International

Pet Sitters International (PSI) has named Liz Hyde, owner of Pet Charmers, LLC, in Gastonia, N.C., the 2019 Pet Sitter of the Year. PSI, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, presents this award annually to a pet-sitting business owner who embodies the passion and professionalism of the pet-sitting industry.

“PSI’s membership represents the best of the best in our industry and selecting a recipient for this honor is never an easy task for the judges,” said PSI President Patti J. Moran. “Liz Hyde is the epitome of a professional pet sitter. She has already had such a great impact on our industry, and we are excited to see her inspire even more pet sitters as 2019 Pet Sitter of the Year.”

Hyde became a PSI member in 2012 after purchasing a pet-sitting business that she had been working for part-time from another PSI member. In addition to owning and operating Pet Charmers, LLC, Hyde is also a professional singer and actress, and she currently tours with Menopause The Musical.

Despite being both a professional performer and professional pet-sitting business owner, Hyde makes serving her community, networking with other pet-care professionals and continuing her pet-sitting education top priorities. She has attended multiple pet-sitter conferences and webinars and obtained her Certified Professional Pet Sitter-CPPS designation. In 2018, she joined the Animal League of Gaston County, a committee that meets monthly to address animal welfare and other local issues. She also volunteers in the office of a local low-cost spay and neuter clinic, and her pet-sitting business helps sponsor the clinic’s “Shelter Pets to Go” program.

As PSI’s 2019 Pet Sitter of the Year, Hyde will serve as the “face of the professional pet-sitting industry” throughout 2019 and will be officially crowned at PSI’s 2019 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference in Winston-Salem, N.C., November 2019.

“For me the title of Pet Sitter of the Year is the highest honor to receive,” said Hyde. “I am such a believer in being as professional as one can be, and now I get to wear a very special crown to show for it!”

The other top-five finalists in the 2019 Pet Sitter of the Year competition were:

• Cara Brockman, CPPS; Cara Care LLC; Chicago, Illinois
• Randa Clark, CPPS; Tailchasers Incorporated; Lake Barrington, Illinois
• Sarah El Sherbini, CPPS; PetsGo Pet Care; Toronto, Ontario
• Casey Kanode; Fairfax Pet Care; Fairfax, Virginia

To learn more about PSI’s Pet Sitter of the Year award, locate a PSI member pet sitter in your area or request more information about pet sitting as a profession, visit PSI’s website.