Pet Sitters International Announces Finalists for 2013 Pet Sitter of the Year Award

Pet Sitters International (PSI) has selected its top-five finalists for the 2013 Pet Sitter of the Year Award. First awarded by PSI in 1995, the Pet Sitter of the Year designation is the industry's highest honor and recognizes true excellence for the professional pet-sitting profession.

PSI congratulates the following top-five finalists who will move forward to the next round of judging for the 2013 award:

• RegIna Duncan, Paw Pals Pet Sitting & Pet Transportation Service, LLC, North Port, Fla.
• Amanda Lacey, CPPS, Happy Tails Dog Walking and In-Home Pet Sitting, Winchester, Va.
• Colleen McDonough, CPPS, Barks and Blooms, Hampden, Md.
• Gina Patrick, Tall Tails, Slidell, La.
• Sari Reis, CPPS, Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services, San Diego, Calif.

Nominees are evaluated on stringent criteria including client recommendations, variety of pets cared for, variety of clients served and services offered, as well as the quantity and quality of nominations. PSI's Pet Sitter of the Year serves as an example to the industry and pet-owning public and embodies the qualities of passion and professionalism.

"From allowing clients to leave home with the peace of mind knowing that their pets are in good hands to serving as trusted pet-care advisors, these finalists are shining examples of the pet-sitting profession's importance," said Patti Moran, PSI president. "The nominations for this year's award leave no question as to the vital role pet sitters play in the lives of their pet-owning clients."

The five finalists move on to the next phase of the judging process and the winner will be selected by a committee including David Pearsall, Vice President of Business Insurers of the Carolinas; Andrea Fischetti, Managing Director of Chicago Pet Video; and Vanessa Sorace, CPPS, PSI's 2012 Pet Sitter of the Year.

Nominations for the award are received from professional pet-sitters' clients, pet-care peers and pet professionals, such as veterinarians.

This year, more than 440 nominations were submitted. Nominees are evaluated based on adherence to PSI's Recommended Quality Standards, degree of professionalism, customer and pet satisfaction information provided in nominations and contributions made to his or her community and the pet-care industry at large.

The 2013 award is sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas.

The Pet Sitter of the Year will be announced in February 2014. The winner, along with the other four finalists, will be recognized at PSI's 2014 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference & Expo next September in Indianapolis, IN.

For more information about PSI, pet sitting as a profession or to locate a PSI pet sitter in your area, visit PSI's Web site at http://www.petsit.com.