Pet Sitters Coming Together at the 2025 NAPPS Conference

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) Conference took place from February 28 to March 2, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. I have had the pleasure of attending most of the NAPPS conferences since I joined the organization in 2010. I enjoy attending because it keeps me informed of the latest trends in our industry while also allowing me to connect with fellow professional pet sitters and business owners from around the US and beyond. Today, I’m sharing a rundown of the 2025 NAPPS Conference and some of my highlights and takeaways.

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters is the US’s only not-for-profit pet sitting association. It’s been around for decades and is a leader in the pet care industry. As the only national, non-profit, professional pet sitting association, NAPPS provides education, certification, and the resources to operate successful businesses. It is dedicated to raising and abiding by industry standards but also empowers its members to create their own visions for their individual businesses.

NAPPS was founded in 1989. The earliest conference took place in 2004 in Philadelphia, PA. Floofins & Co. works closely with NAPPS. I am a NAPPS Certified Professional Pet Sitter and participate in NAPPS’ Presents 4 Pets campaign every year. I also earned the title of NAPPS 2020 Business of the Year, which is one of the highest honors in the pet sitting industry.

The 2025 NAPPS Conference

This year’s NAPPS conference theme was Enrich & Elevate ~ Mind, Body, and Business. It took place in Tempe, Arizona, during a gorgeous winter week in the Southwest. It was a nice break from Chicago’s winter temperatures and a great opportunity to enjoy sunshine and southwestern cuisine.

NAPPS alternates locations annually to reach as many pet sitters as possible. Last year, we were in Savannah, Georgia. Therefore, it was time to head west to connect with those pet sitters who couldn’t make it to Georgia due to distance and/or cost.

Some of this year’s sessions included Maximizing Community & Collaboration and Boosting Your Social Media Presence. We also explored powerful topics like Understanding Grief in Animal Caregiving and Emergency Planning. Whether pet or business-related, all topics are designed to elevate attendees’ skills and help our businesses thrive.

NAPPS Conference Highlights and Take-Aways

The discussions on social media presence struck a chord with me. I have worked on elevating our online content, but it feels as though our followers aren’t seeing what we share. Maybe we need additional methods, maybe we need more followers before engagement will rise. Who knows?! The thing that I always take away from discussions about social media is that social media is an art—the science (aka algorithm) is hard to master.

I believe I need to be more camera-forward, which is hard for me. I love to highlight the pets and our team, preferring to remain behind the scenes. But, being among other professionals who struggle with the same concerns, hang-ups, etc., and knowing I’m not alone in my hesitation is very helpful.

Professional Pet Sitters in Elmhurst & Surrounding Areas

At Floofins & Co., we’re committed to continuing education, training, and proper pet care. By attending these industry events, I stay on top of trends and best practices and gain access to experts in various fields who can answer questions for me in real time!

If you are new to Floofins & Co. and interested in our dog walking, pet sitting, dog training, or pet photography services, please fill out our contact form. Once received, we will be in touch to further discuss your interest. Please give us a call at 630-478-8915 or drop us a line at info@floofinsandco.com. We are happy to discuss our services from Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

Learn more about our in-home pet care new client onboarding process here. If you are an existing client, please schedule services here.