PSI 2025 Comes to the San Antonio Riverwalk: Highlights from This Year’s Pet Sitters Conference

Last week, my husband Jonathan and I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Pet Sitters International (PSI) Conference, right here in downtown San Antonio near the beautiful Riverwalk! As owners of Paw Time Favorite Pet Sitting, we are proud to have a professional team that continued delivering service as usual while we attended. We strongly believe in continuing education to better serve our clients and their pets, stay up to date with the latest industry standards, and ensure our team provides care at the highest level of professionalism.

This year’s conference brought together some of the brightest minds and most compassionate hearts in the pet care industry. From time management to cat behavior, insurance to leadership, every session offered tools and strategies to help us grow as business owners and pet care professionals.

Day 1: Connection, Celebration, and Learning

The conference kicked off Thursday, September 9th, in the afternoon with attendee check-in and plenty of mingling in the Exhibitor Area, followed by the PSI Welcome + Awards Ceremony. Seeing Jessica Milam, owner of Fur Services Fur Pets, win the 2025 Pet Sitter of the Year Award was inspiring and set the tone for the weekend.

Our first educational session was “Tackling Time: Implementing Strategic Time Management” with Collin Funkhouser, co-host of the Pet Sitter Confessional podcast. Collin shared actionable tips to help business owners streamline their schedules, reduce overwhelm, and stay focused, a reminder that managing our time effectively is key to maintaining both excellent service and personal balance. We wrapped up the day with a fun round of Charity BINGO, connecting with fellow sitters over laughs and shared experiences.

Day 2: Deep Dives into Dog Behavior and Business Management

Wednesday, September 10th, started off with Jessica Davis, a professional dog trainer and owner of Arfordable Dog Training based in Converse, Texas. She presented “Avoiding the Pull: Strategies for Stress-Free Dog Walks.” As dog walkers, practical leash-handling techniques and positive reinforcement strategies are critical for both the dogs we care for and our team’s safety. Jessica delivered many tips and strategies that we can’t wait to share with our team! #BeSexierThanTheSquirrel

Up next was Beth Stultz-Hairston, president of PSI, who reminded us in “Put Your Oxygen Mask on First” that taking care of ourselves is essential to caring for pets and clients. It’s a lesson we take to heart at Paw Time Favorite, balancing a busy schedule with self-care so we can give our best to the pets we serve.

Before lunch, we attended “Behind-the-Scenes: What You Need to Know About Using Employees” by Kim Tank, a former veterinary technician and professional pet sitter who splits her time between the Bay Area and El Dorado County. Kim offered insight into hiring, training, and leading a team effectively, something we practice daily with our professional staff.

After lunch along the scenic Riverwalk, Anne-Marie Kaden, owner of TinyPaws Bookkeeping, gave a session on cash flow management, and provided valuable strategies for maintaining financial health in uncertain times. We ended the day with roundtable discussions, sharing ideas and experiences with fellow pet care business owners from across the country and creating new networking relationships.

Day 3: Cats, Coverage, and Courage

Thursday, September 11th, was a whirlwind of knowledge! Laura Cassiday, a certified cat behavior consultant, taught us how to approach feline aggression with compassion and science-based techniques. I know this will make a big difference for our cat clients who are shy or fearful.

We had a chance to ask David Pearsall from Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC), all our questions about liability coverage. It was so reassuring to know we have strong support protecting our team, our clients, and their pets.

Next, Michelle Kline, owner of DogCo Launch, shared powerful strategies in “The Art of Strategic Decision Making” to help us grow sustainably without sacrificing balance. And we ended with Jessica Milam, PSI’s 2025 Pet Sitter of the Year, whose heartfelt talk on “Getting Through the Hard” reminded us why we do this work: because pets and their people count on us and because we truly love what we do.

The conference closed with a sneak peek that the 2026 PSI Conference will be held in New Mexico, and we are already marking our calendar!

Moving Forward

With all of this year’s information and inspiration, we’ll be pouring everything we learned back into Paw Time Favorite Pet Sitting, supporting our employees and equipping them with the best pet care practices in the San Antonio area. We’re committed to continuing to give our clients peace of mind while they trust us with their beloved fur babies. Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and caring!

About the Autor

Malaysia Speaks is the Owner and Founder of Paw Time Favorite Pet Sitting LLC, providing award-winning pet care in San Antonio since 2023. A UTSA graduate with over eight years of veterinary experience, she is certified in Cat and Dog First Aid & CPR and a Certified Veterinary Assistant. Malaysia is also a proud member of Pet Sitters International and the Texas Pet Sitter Association. Learn more about Malaysia under "Meet the Team."