May 2021

Certified Professional Spotlight – Meet Cindie Carter

Meet Cindie Carter, CPACP, a true inspiration to those who adore animals! Cindie started Walks and Wags in 1991, providing dog walking and pet sitting services for extra money during her college years. When reflecting, she said, “from that time on dogs have nourished, educated and shown me nothing but love”. 

Pet care is a family affair for Cindie. As her son has grown with the business, he’s demonstrated a natural talent in pet care while her husband is heavily involved with Walks and Wags as the photographer, pet taxi driver and musician for guests. He plays happy birthday on his trumpet for the dogs, and one evening, while Walks and Wags was caring for an anxious Springer Spaniel, he practiced saxophone until the pup went to sleep.

Cindie says all she needs in life is to be surrounded by as many dogs as possible; she loves them all. So PACCC wanted to sit down with her to find out more about her “certification story”.

PACCC: Why did you choose to get certified?

Cindie: Caring for these animals is such a huge responsibility. Their safety and well-being is in my staff’s hands. I want to have no doubt for myself, my staff and my pet companions and families that I am prepared to care for and look out for the well being of their family. I love PACCC because it is a third party test and a very difficult one at that. When it comes to our fur babies, they deserve the highest level of integrity and care.

PACCC: Has certification had a positive impact on your business in any way?

Cindie: When clients call, one of the first things we share is that we are the only facility in our area that has gone to the trouble of being PACCC certified.  Then we usually explain what PACCC is and you can hear the stress lift (from the client) when discussing this with them. I spend less time on the phone trying to convince them of why they should choose us. Instead I spend time making sure all vaccinations and requirements are filled and listening to my clients needs.

PACCC: Would you recommend or encourage others to take the exam and get certified? If so, why?

Cindie: ABSOLUTELY! You are responsible for these sentient beings, they are entrusting you to be their guardian while in your care.  As good stewards it is our obligation to give them your best or you’re not a professional. A PACCC certification assures your clients that you do know what you’re doing! And they can always report you if they feel otherwise.     

Exam Update

Congratulations to Our Newly Certified Professionals!

The following are those who joined the PACCC in the March exam cycle:

Professional Animal Care Provider Exam 

• Nicole Henderson, Michigan, USA
• Katie Parlich, Wisconsin, USA
• Genevieve Smith, Wisconsin, USA

Professional Animal Care Manager Exam

• Tiffany Estep, Colorado, USA

Professional Animal Care Operator Exam

• Elizabeth Staples, Massachusetts, USA

Thank you for your commitment to the safety and wellbeing of pets in your care. We are happy to have you as #partofthepaccc!

Exam Windows

The deadline to register for the next exam cycle is May 12th. For information on registration, visit paccert.org/exam-info/. For exam prep, including information on accessing our study group and resources recommended by current certified professionals, visit paccert.org/paccc-prep/

PACCC Exams can now be taken Virtually

We’ve heard your feedback; some pet care professionals haven’t been able to certify because they are too far from a testing facility or too busy to take the exam during business hours. If you are one of these people, we have exciting news! For the first time, pet care professionals are able to take the PACCC exam from the comfort of their home or office, any time of day within the scheduled 2-week testing window! 

The PACCC exam remains a proctored exam with strict testing regulations and security but with the Proproctor technology, a remote proctor can monitor the exam process from afar.  As technology continues to evolve, we expect this functionality will become even easier but in the meantime, there are some things that you should know when considering remote proctoring:

• A strong and reliable internet connection is required. If your connection fails and it is determined to be on your end, you may forfeit any exam fees.
• A testing area free of clutter, paper, books, etc. is required.
• Current technology prevents special accommodation requirements however these are still available at in-person testing facilities.
• Leaving the testing room for any reason is not permitted. This includes bathroom breaks.
• No food or drink is allowed.

If you have questions, please reach out! Now there is no excuse to prove your pet care skills with the world’s only third-party certification! #saferinapaccc

Practice Exams

If you are planning on testing this year, the practice exams are a fantastic way to prepare. Each exam gives you the opportunity to:

• Review the type of content included on the actual exam
• Learn more about question format, style, and level of difficulty
• Assess any areas of weakness

For more information on practice exams visit paccert.org/practice-exams/.

For Current Certified Professionals

If you are currently certified with PACCC, ensure you have joined our private Facebook group and that your information is up-to-date in our Certified Directory. To modify your personal information, click here. 

Pet Parents

When Choosing A Petcare Provider

When choosing a pet care provider, pet parents don’t always realize that it can be like comparing apples to oranges when looking at their options. This printable document provides a detailed list of things to consider when choosing a pet care provider, along with a rating scale to ensure pets are taken care of with safety and wellness in mind. Click here to open the PDF version. We hope you’ll share!

Pet Parent Webinar

Join us May 25th at 7pm EST for a Summer Safety Tips Pet Parent Interactive Meeting. We will discuss patio etiquette, leash handling tips, heat safety (pavement/car), trail safety, water safety and so much more! Click here to register. 

Events

Webinars now on YouTube

We are excited to announce that all past PACCC Webinars can be found on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to ensure you are in the loop as new videos are added. 

April Webinar 

A big thank you to Bill Hillis, Co-Founder & CEO of Social Pet Hotel and Daycare who presented on the topic, “So you survived 2020…Where do we go from here? Financing Growth Opportunities in 2021”. In this informative session, Bill discussed how to leverage finances and operations to set yourself up to grow in the year ahead. This counted as 1 CEU for certified professionals. Stay tuned on our Facebook and Instagram pages for all webinar updates!

March Muttness

We want to send a huge THANK YOU to the Dog Gurus for donating the proceeds from the March Muttess Education event. The Dog Gurus have been an incredible supporter of PACCC throughout the years and we couldn’t be more grateful. 

CEU Updates

We LOVE learning – and we’re sure you do, too! 

We are looking to expand the PACCC CEU library! Do you know a professional in our industry who presents educational content or offers quality courses? If so, we would love to know – please send their name our way so we can reach out! 

Looking for more CEU opportunities? Eleven FREE Fetchfind courses are approved for a total of 15.5 PACCC CEUs. These courses can be found at fetchfind.com and include: Canine Development, Equipment 101, Dog Breeds 101, Canine Behavior and Communication, Canine Health and Wellness, Dog Training for Pet Pros, Feline Fundamental, Daycare and Boarding Basics, Dog Walking Visit Basics, Intro to Safe Handling, and Customer Service Basics! 

PACCC Supporter Profile

The International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA)

Before the first PACCC exam was taken, the IBPSA has been creating quality educational materials. These courses and resources have assisted hundreds in preparing to take a PACCC exam. They’ve also been an integral source for many seeking the required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) needed for recertification.

The 2021 IBPSA Business Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, September 20th to 23rd. Each year, the IBPSA ensures the vast majority of the education sessions held at its annual conference are approved for PACCC CEUs. Registration for this year’s conference is now open at petcareconference.com so be sure to get your ticket now before it sells out! We would love for you to visit us in-person at the PACCC booth on the tradeshow floor!

The Following is from IBPSA.com:

The International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA) is a professional association serving the pet care services industry 

IBPSA offers business resources, staff education, and legislative support. IBPSA Members include the owners and employees of pet boarding and daycare facilities, groomers, dog walkers, pet sitters, veterinarians, trainers, and holistic pet care providers currently residing in more than 10 countries.

For the fast-growth, highly competitive world of pet care services, IBPSA is dedicated to providing our Members with the business resources and support they need to be among those considered the best in the industry. IBPSA’s staff education and certificate programs, developed by veterinarians and industry experts, provide an invaluable base of pet care knowledge for service providers. Our focus on current industry trends and analysis of impact to business, as well as staying abreast of industry legislation, allows Members to focus on making their business a success.

IBPSA also facilitates and encourages networking opportunities so Members can gain support and learn from other industry professionals.