NEWSLETTER
Tasty little updates on what’s happening with the PACCC!
February 2021
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2021! Wow, 2020 was an interesting year! Despite the pandemic, PACCC was able to accomplish a lot! Read more in our 2020: A Year in Review wrap-up blog post!
Exam Update
Exam Windows
Although it is now too late to register for the March 6th to 20th, you can start preparing for the June 12-26 window! Note that the registration deadline is May 12th . For more information about registration, visit the PACCC website at paccert.org/exam-info/.
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/.
New Study Group Alert!
We’ve recently merged our Facebook study groups into one group to provide a more enhanced level of support from professionals at all levels! Have you joined yet? This is where you can have your questions answered and also find high quality content that helps with studying! Join here!
Congratulations to Our Newly Certified Professionals!
The following are those who passed the November exam cycle:
Professional Animal Care Provider Exam
Emily Abbott, Cathy Brooks, Deborah Calvaresi, Rachael Cronkite, Olivia Davenport, Mckayla Delacy, Patrick Dougherty, Karah Hennigan, Kathleen Hennigan, Jennifer McKinney, Haven Olson, Kathleen Ozimek, Jocelyne Perez, Asia Poe, Brooke Racicot, Amberlie Robbins, Leslea Villigan
Professional Animal Care Manager Exam
Felicia Bennett, Jennifer Hicks, Talis Kostuik and Ashley Mosca
Professional Animal Care Provider Exam
Ellen Adlam and Amanda Lovegrove
Congratulations to each of you and thank you for recognizing the importance of independent certification. Our pets are #saferinapaccc because of you.
Events
ODD Ball 2021
Thank you to the Owner’s of Dog Daycare’s for inviting us to attend the 2021 Virtual ODD Ball! We look forward to seeing you again next year!
January Best Practices Session
Thanks to everyone that joined and participated in the January Best Practices discussion on Canine Enrichment. We had a fantastic conversation about different products and activities. We also discussed creative ways to keep our pups engaged mentally and physically, at work and at home, by encouraging the use of their five senses.
As a reminder, Best Practices sessions count for 1 CEU. We can’t wait to see you at the next session which will be announced on our Facebook page.
Upcoming Webinar
The next PACCC Webinar will take place in April and will be hosted by Bill Hillis, co-owner of Social Pet Hotel and Daycare in Charlotte, NC. This webinar will cover the basic financial best practices necessary to successfully operate your pet care facility. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more information!
March Muttness
Throughout the month of March, educational sessions are taking place during an event titled, ‘The March Muttness Education Challenge’. The event, hosted by the Dog Gurus, is not only including a session by PACCC Chair, Stephanie Shipley, but the proceeds from every $5 event registration fee will be donated to PACCC. Please register here. We can’t wait to see you there!
CEU Updates
Fetch Find
We are extremely excited to announce that 8 Fetchfind courses have been approved for PACCC CEUs! They will soon be added to our Approved Programs Directory soon!
Certified Professional Spotlight – Debbie Sciortino!
Debbie has been with A Closer Bond in Palatine, Illinois since 2018 where she first started her pet care career by creating a fitness program for the dogs. Her talents were immediately recognized and shortly after assumed the role of General Manager. Debbie’s positive energy is contagious and can be felt instantly as soon as you meet her!
Debbie is a Certified Professional Animal Care Provider (CPACP) through the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC), has her certification in Pet First Aid & CPR, is a K9 Fit Club Certified Master Trainer and has a certification in Infectious Disease Management from Heroes for Healthy Pets.
When Debbie is not at A Closer Bond, you can find her working out at OrangeTheory Fitness, riding her motorcycle with her dog Mack, and adding to her shoe collection.
Debbie has 5 furkids! 2 dogs; Benny and Mack, along with 3 cats; Stanley, Maxwell, and Betty White.
What was your motivation for becoming a CPACP?
My motivation was to stop just telling our clients we are the experts in our field, I wanted to PROVE it. With how passionate and intelligent my staff is, I knew it would be a great way to showcase their talent. Getting our staff certified has also boosted their pride in caring for the dogs at A Closer Bond!
Has being certified made a change to your business?
Our clients have always trusted us to care for their pets, but this certification adds an extra level of comfort to our clients in knowing that their pet is in the best care possible. We have had several new clients choose our facility over our competitors when they discovered how many staff members have this certification.
Would you recommend certification to other pet care professionals?
Absolutely! Like I said, it is time we stop telling clients we are the experts and start proving it instead. Other professionals in different industries go through intensive certifications to be able to do what they do, the pet care industry should be held to that same standard.
PACCC Supporter Profile – Gator Kennels
We would like to welcome Gator Kennels to our PACCC Community. This fantastic team began building kennels in 2010, so in terms of kennel manufacturing they are the “new kids on the block” compared to some of the other suppliers. PACCC is so thankful that Gator Kennels recognized the importance of a standard of care in our industry and actually reached out to us to get involved!!! It is not every day that a sponsor comes knocking on OUR door but they believe in our mission so that is exactly what they did. Please take a minute to read about Gator Kennels and check out some awesome pictures of their work:
At Gator Kennels, we custom-build each enclosure to order. The kennels are sized to maximize the space available, allowing you to house more animals, comfortably. Extra features such as glass windows, fast-feeder systems, logos or designs can be incorporated into the kennel – ensuring you get the look as well as the function you need for your specific business.
Our team consists of engineers with prior experience in a multitude of industries, materials, building projects and backgrounds. This enables us to consider multiple methods of manufacturing, materials, and designs. The rest of our team includes animal lovers and a microbiologist – where we can consider the safety aspect of the kennels, the dogs comfort, and cleanliness of the kennels as well.
Gator Kennels has held the belief that: “Anyone can build a box to put a dog in – but not everyone can make the kennel a useful tool, designed to help the caregiver as well as providing a safe, comfortable place for the dogs.” We are always working on improving the kennels – but we tend to take a ‘big-picture’ approach. What might work in one situation will not work everywhere. Also, we have to weigh the costs of manufacturing against the cost of the wear-and-tear against the kennels.
This means that not every improvement is cost-effective enough to make it a standard feature – but we consider every bit of feedback we receive in the hopes that we can make adjustments to make the kennels better.
The Gator Kennels team hopes our dedication to quality and our ‘big-picture’ approach to design shows through in every project. We want kennels to last a lifetime – but we also want kennels that look great, make your life easier, and keep the dogs safe – while still being affordable!
Board of Directors – Meet our New Members!
In January, PACCC was fortunate enough to add three new Board members! Welcome Jamie, Peg and Nichole!
Jamie Engerdahl, CPACP
Jamie is the Owner of Kinder Canine Coaching in Manitoba, Canada, and has over twenty years experience in the Animal Care Industry. She is a Certified Professional Animal Care Provider, Certified Professional Canine Behaviour/Obedience Trainer, CKC Judge, Certified Veterinary Assistant, and an Animal Advocate. In her spare time, Jamie works alongside many Rescue Groups and Animal Welfare Organizations, offering expertise in several areas of the industry.
As a Military wife, Jamie has been able to take her work all over the country and help many animals in a unique way. She specializes in Anxiety and Aggression Behaviour by helping pet parents understand their dogs’ needs from their point of view. Jamie also likes to focus on prevention, safety and education with pet parents, striving for a successful, accepted and reliable Canine Good Neighbour.
Jamie’s passion has always been and continues to be to improve the standard of care in the Animal Care Industry. Her life currently revolves around her two dogs, Mya and Molly and her two cats, Hope and Boots. Mya is a Husky/Shepherd mix full of sass and silliness as she enters her senior years while Molly is a Terrier Mix who recently retired from being a Demo/Competitive Dog. Jamie enjoys competing in Scent, Agility, Flyball, Obedience/Rally, and Wag it Games with her dogs and her family hopes to welcome a new addition in the near future.
Nichole Bennett, CPACO
In 2015, Nichole and her family turned their dream of creating a safe, healthy, and fun space for dogs into a reality when they opened Biscuits Doggie Daycare in Tacoma, Washington. Born and raised in Lakewood, Washington, Nichole graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Being well-educated in everything “dog” is very important to Nichole – she attended the Northwest School of Canine Studies and became certified in Canine Studies in May of 2016 and became a Pet Tech Pet First Aid and CPR Instructor the same year. Nichole will never stop pursuing new opportunities for learning and growth and is excited to help carry on the mission of the PACCC.
Peg Banks, CPACP, CPACM
Peg Banks has been involved in nonprofit leadership for over 35 years. She has been the manager at Dog Tired K9 Activity Center in Anchorage, Alaska since 2006, is a founding member of The Normandy Project, and has served with Friends of Pets as past president, director and volunteer since 1996. Her pet care experience encompasses private boarding facilities, municipal animal shelters, and animal welfare organizations. In that realm she has also participated in strategic planning, development training, policy writing, and education outreach. Peg’s passion is senior dog rescue and canine geriatrics. She is regularly engaged in canine hospice care and pet grief support for families experiencing loss, and is a member of the International Association of Animal Hospice & Palliative Care.
August 2020
Certified Professional Spotlight – Meet Merit Day!
I started a dog training business Top Dog Training in 2004. I had just completed the online curriculum Dog Trainer / Instructor Program from Penn Foster University. I constructed a small 30×20 barn on my private property and started teaching classes. At the time, my goal
PACCC: What was your motivation for becoming a CPACP?
My motivation for becoming a CPACP was based on wanting to learn and be prepared for the opening of my expansion of my dog training business into a full-service facility. In the planning and development process I wanted to study and learn as much as I could. The expectations to succeed at the test pushed me and provided me with a guideline of what topics are important.
PACCC: Has being certified made a change to your business?
I am not sure if being certified has made a change in my business. It did make a change in myself. I became educated, prepared, and confident I would maintain a safe facility with quality care. I also feel it set a great example to my staff. I want what we do to be treated like a profession. I want my workers to be aware their knowledge, training, and certification are assets for them.
Yes, I would recommend certification to other pet care professionals because it is a wealth of information based on experiences of many qualified people. Having access and wanting to learn from them is what the certification process allows. You set yourself on the path of continually learning. You want to pursue excellence, and this gives you a path and a measurement point.
I read and attended seminars in preparation for my certification. I obtained materials from The Dog Gurus, and the library of the IBPSA. I took the IBPSA Canine Care Specialist certification exam IBPSA. I also took an online pet first aid course. I also read two books on managing employees. I attended the annual IBPSA conference and the ODD Ball conference.
PACCC Supporter Profile
As a not-for-profit organization, we rely heavily on the support of individuals and organizations to assist PACCC in spreading the word about the importance of obtaining independent certification in the pet care industry. Which is why we would love to share with you some information about these generous organizations that believe in PACCC’s mission and vision. Meet…
Pet Tech is a long-time supporter of PACCC by increasing awareness about the importance of independent certification through the distribution of PACCC materials to pet professionals and pet parents around the globe.
With a series of well-established courses geared to “Improving the Quality of Pets’ Lives, One Pet Parent at a Time”™, Pet Tech is a premiere education provider with several of their courses already approved for the PACCC CEU program. Whether it’s their full 8-hour PetSaver Program, 5+ hour Pet First Aid & CPR Course, the 90-minute Hiking & Walking class, or the comprehensive 3-day Pet Tech Instructor Training, the information is up to date and easy to understand and remember. Look for a listing of available PetTech courses near you on their website https://pettech.net.
Don’t see a course near you? PetTech Instructors are so committed to getting the education into the pet community that they may be available to travel to your area to conduct a session tailored to your group’s needs as pet parents or pet care professionals. Just ask!
PACCC sincerely thanks Thom, Cindy and the entire Pet Tech family for their ongoing daily support of PACCC!
Exam Update
Fall Exam Window
The next exam window is from November 7-21, 2020, with the deadline to register being October 15, 2020. For more information about registration, visit the PACCC website at paccert.org/exam-info/.
Practice Exams
If you are planning on testing in November, 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/.
Congratulations to Our Newly Certified Professionals!
We are so proud of the 11 people who got certified in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A HUGE congratulations goes out to the following fabulous pet professionals!
Certified Professional Animal Care Manager
- Julie Chamness, Belleville MI
- Rebecca Michael, Mobile AL
Certified Professional Animal Care Provider
- Kylie Brown, Baltimore MD
- Christian Moore, Severna Park MD
- Whitney Patterson, Maryville TN
- Benjamin Royal, Regina SK, Canada
Certified Professional Animal Care Operator
- Nichole Bennett, Tacoma WA
- Samanatha Engle, Middleburg VA
- Patrick Flynn, Washington D.C.
- Amy Hillis, Charlotte NC
- Jonathon Nisula, Beacon Falls CT
Congratulations to those who are now #saferinapaccc! Your dedication to the Pet Care industry is inspirational and we hope you shout your accomplishment from the rooftops!
Best Practices Session
On Tuesday, August 18th, PACCC played host to a wonderful group of Certified Pet Care Professionals who joined us on the first-ever live PACCC Best Practices session. The topic that was up for discussion was Best Practices for Leveraging your Certification for your Business. We shared ideas on how some of our Certified Professionals have marketed their certification within their facilities, business and their communities. Due to the wonderful response during and after the call, PACCC has decided to keep this going for all of our Certified Professionals on a bi-monthly basis! If you have a topic that you would like to see discussed in a Best Practices format, we would love to hear from you. Send your Best Practices topics and we’ll add them to our list. Spread the word so we can continue to grow our network of Certified Pet Care Professional and learn from one another. The recording is posted on our private FB page for PACCC Certified Professionals Only – just one more reason to join the PACCC by becoming certified in the pet care industry.
Upcoming Webinars:
September 9 at 3pm Eastern – Recent Trends in the Pet Care Industry
PACCC is absolutely thrilled to announce that our September Webinar with be none other than Carmen Rustenbeck, Founder and CEO of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA). Carmen is excited to talk to our attendees about recent trends happening in the pet care industry, what to expect in the first quarter of 2021, how to get the most out of an IBPSA membership and the upcoming IBPSA Conference sessions. There may even be a few more surprises that you won’t want to miss. Click Here to Register for the Webinar
Events
IBPSA Conference 2020
Stop into our virtual booth at the IBPSA Conference! Your PACCC Board of Directors and other Certified Professionals want to meet you face to face and this virtual conference has the capability to make it happen. With the use of video technology, you can meet face to face (albeit not in person) to ask us questions about PACCC and our mission to make pet care safer across the globe. If you believe that you are good at what you do as a pet care provider, manager, or operator and that you truly know how to provide skilled care for your furry clients, then NOW is the time to prove it by taking the PACCC Exam and joining the group of certified pet care professionals who are striving to improve themselves, their business and the pet care industry.
CEU Updates
Are you up for recertification this year? Did your certification expire in March or June? If so, we have good news – the recertification deadline for ALL certifications that expire in 2020 (including those that expired in March), has been extended! Applications for recertification can now be submitted until November 30. Note that if applications are submitted in December, the testing organization charges a late fee.
For more information on the recertification process, including the Recertification Handbooks and Applications, visit paccert.org/recertification/
Need CEUs to recertify?
- The IBPSA Conference 2020 has more than 30 sessions that have been approved for PACCC CEUs and you have access to all of the sessions until March 31, 2021 to accumulate those CEUs to submit for recertification. Register now at petcareconference.com/
register/ - Submit exam questions for consideration for future exams. Write 5 approved questions for ongoing PACCC exams (3 CEUs). Note: A maximum of 6 CEUs can be earned by writing exam questions in any recertification period. Submitted questions must be approved by the Exam Committee and submitted at least 60 days prior to certification expiration to earn CEUs. Get in touch with us at info@paccert.org to find out how to submit your questions.
- Are you taking a local pet care educational course? If so, you can submit a request to have it PACCC approved for CEUs. Just click paccert.org/attendee-app/
- PACCC Committee participation for a minimum of a one-year period (5 CEUs).
- Completion of the practice exam for your appropriate level of certification (2 CEUs).
- Volunteer work experience at a shelter, rescue group, or animal rescue organization may be submitted to the CEU Committee for review and approval of CEUs based on work description and length of time. (Approved volunteer hours are 1 CEU per 8 hours of volunteering.) To request CEUs for volunteer activity, please submit via the online form Verification Form paccert.org/verification/
- Reviewed and approved by the PACCC CEU Committee authorship of:
- An article in a recognized pet care industry publication (2 CEUs)
- An educational book less than 300 pages (20 CEUs)
- An educational book more than 300 pages (40 CEUs)
- Check out our list of “already PACCC approved” CEU opportunities at paccert.org/ceu-approved/
Get Involved
Board of Directors Nominations
Annually the PACCC nominating committee solicits candidates to join our board of directors. Board terms are for three years and, in most cases, service begins in January.
The Board of Directors exists to secure and promote the financial, legal and ethical wellbeing of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC) and to ensure that it fulfills its mission. Board members must be able to regularly participate and contribute to PACCC business.
We are currently accepting applications for three board positions to begin service in January 2021.
2019 Nomination Process & Timeline
September 1 – 15 – Application window
September 15 – Last day to submit application form
September 16 – 22 – Nominating Committee members interview candidates
September 25 – Board Candidates announced (all applicants will be notified via email the status of their application)
October 8 – Existing Board of Directors make final selection of new board members
Board Member Qualifications
- Advocate for professional certification
- Be a current PACCC certificant or plan to sit for exam within 6 months of joining the board
- Be actively involved in the animal care industry, having held a paying position in the last six months, preferably over three years of experience
- Commitment to animal care excellence and raising industry standard of care
- Excellent communication skills
- Invests in ongoing learning personally and for all staff
- Open to new ideas and sharing to improve industry’s overall performance
- Proven business skills
Submission Process
(1) Review “Board of Directors – Duties, Qualifications and Responsibilities” PDF to gain an understanding of board member responsibilities to assess if board service is a good fit for you.
(2) Complete the online PACCC Board Candidate Application Form & Board Service Questionnaire. Note: You will be required to upload a resume and three (3) letters of professional reference upon submitting the application form.
(3) Review the documents below to ensure agreement and compliance in the event you are selected as a board member. (You do not submit copies of these documents with your application.)
We appreciate your consideration of service on the PACCC board. Submit any questions you have on service or the submission process to info@paccert.org.
We would also like to take a moment to recognize those PACCC Board Members who are completing their term and will be leaving the Board of Directors as of December 31, 2020. These dedicated individuals have given so much of their time, passion and skill by serving tirelessly on the PACCC Board of Directors throughout the ongoing growth of the council itself and the creation of all 3 exams (Provider, Manager and Operator levels). Much of what PACCC has been able to achieve can be attributed to the hard work of Anna Torres-Radle, Angie Pickren and Beth Jones. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to each of these ladies for their commitment, dedication and hard work over the past several years that has brought PACCC to where it is today. The pet care industry thanks you!
May 2020
Certified Professional Spotlight – Meet Stephanie Brooks!
PACCC: What was your motivation for becoming a CPACM?
It was incredibly important to me to become a certified professional because in South 
Carolina we are an unregulated industry. PACCC encompasses practices and standards of care that we have done as a business since our inception in 2011. I am excited to be part of an organization that helps hold pet care services to such a high standard.
PACCC: Has being certified made a change to your business?
Many things that certification required I be knowledgeable about were already things our business was emphasizing, but in studying for the exam I did learn quite a few things about health that have been very useful.
PACCC: Would you recommend certification to other pet care professionals?
Absolutely. Becoming certified is a fabulous way to show your clients how much their dogs mean to you. Maintaining certification requires you to be learning and brushing up on the latest advances and recommendations.
PACCC: What are some of the courses, books, websites, etc., that you found most valuable when preparing to take the PACCC Exam?
The requirement that you have over 4,000 hours in the business was definitely helpful! I love immersing myself in webinars and books to continue my education. Reading up on dog body language and off leash play by Dog Gurus were good resources. Putting those into practice by observing and managing groups of dogs over the years was invaluable. Having a mentor to ask questions of when starting out was a great help. And the practice exams offered were invaluable. Those show you where you might need a little additional studying prior to the exam. (I needed more studying in accounting – it’s not my favorite!)
Website: Since Tail Lights Dogs’ beginnings, Stephanie Brooks has been instrumental in making the vision come alive. She has worked alongside Tail Lights’ founder Mira Jones in all aspects of managing and decision making, excelling each step of the way!
Through her knowledge of dog care and behavior, along with exceptional customer service, Stephanie personifies the mission of Tail Lights Dogs. She continues the mission: to provide a safe, welcoming facility, in which our clients may rest assured their dogs are carefully supervised, positively trained and warmly loved during all stages of their lives.
PACCC Supporter Profile
We want to recognize Gingr for their dedication to creating certification pet parents can trust! Gingr has been a great friend to PACCC over the years and has played a key role in our success.
Not only is Gingr a user-friendly dog daycare, kennel and grooming software, but they are also a great supporter of our industry. They are passionate about pets, pet care business and the smooth running of pet-care businesses. They believe being certified in animal care sets you apart as a professional employee in the pet-care industry. They also share in the belief that your peers, employers and customers will recognize you more as a professional with skills and comprehensive knowledge of how to care for pets. Both PACCC and Gingr feel that this level of knowledge will help you earn more, manage the risks of your job and help build the reputation of the company you work for or own. Also, did you know – If you are a Gingr software user, you receive a 10% discount on PACCC exam registration?!
Other Support
A sincere thank you to those who donated to our 10 days of Love Campaign. Together, we were able to raise $1,525 to assist with the almost $10,000 in fees we have incurred with changing testing organizations. Thank you to the following:
Kari Campbell, Katy Cushing, Stephanie Shipley, Judy Breton, Dave and Jess Zellmer, Jamie Engerdahl, Beth Jones, Alex McKinnon, Michele Ziomek, Barbara Noll, Carmen Rustenbeck and the two anonymous donors.
PACCC would also like to send a special thanks to those individuals or businesses who have chosen to become monthly supporters. The option of contributing a smaller monthly donation makes it easier to become a PACCC Sponsor. Thank you to Kari Campbell at Dog Tired Daycare in Alaska, USA, Katy Cushing at A Closer Bond in Illinois, USA, and Stephanie Shipley at Paw & Order in New Brunswick, Canada.
COVID-19 Updates
The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused great stress for the pet care industry. During these difficult times, Pet Care Providers need to stick together. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of knowledgeable resources to help assist with navigating through the challenges of our new normal.
US Government Response to COVID-19
Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
Paycheck Protection Program Information
Coronavirus Relief Funding Options
Small Business Guide – Coronavirus Emergency Loans
COVID-19 Pet Industry Rssources Provided by IBPSA
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
COVID-19 and Pet Care Businesses: The Essential Guide(Gingr)
Exam Update
In March, testing centers worldwide shut down, leading to the rescheduling of many PACCC exams.
If you were affected by the closures and have yet to reschedule your exam, please contact Prometric at prometric.com/contact-us.
For the latest information on site closures, click here.
Congratulations!
Two individuals were able to sit for the Certified Provider exam prior to the closing of testing centers. We are excited to announce that both of these individuals have passed! Congratulations to Zoe Hunter from New Brunswick, Canada, and Sabine Maarse from Ontario, Canada! We are ecstatic that you are now #partofthepaccc!
Have time to Study?
If your business has slowed due to the current pandemic, you may find yourself with extra time on your hands. This is the perfect excuse to start thinking about sitting for a PACCC exam! Not sure where to start? Study Groups, Practice Exams and other resources can be found at paccert.org/paccc-prep/
Upcoming Webinars
Don’t miss out! Our next free educational webinar, presented by The Dog Gurus, is on Thursday May 7th at 11am EST. Register here: bit.ly/PACCCWebinar
This session is called ‘How to Avoid Pet Tragedies in Your Pet Care Business’ and The Dog Gurus are giving away a FREE BONUS ITEM to those who attend the live session! 🤩
Make sure to register ASAP as there are limited seats! Remember, all of our webinars count towards one PACCC CEU! 🐾
Events
Rebound, Rebuild, Recover Virtual Conference
PACCC was fortunate to host a virtual booth at this Dog Gurus event that took place virtually on April 29th and 30th. Thank you to those who were able to stop by our booth! PACCC would also like to thank The Dog Gurus for their continued support!
January 2020
Certified Professional Spotlight – Jamie Engerdahl
Jamie and her husband of 24 years, Corey, along with their 2 wonderful grown kids, are a military family who have spent their fair share of time on a ‘wild animal’ journey. Jamie started her animal journey in the mid 1990’s working and volunteering in local animal shelters while becoming a Veterinary Assistant and working towards becoming a Veterinary Technician. She is now a Certified Dog Trainer specializing in Behavior Modification, Aggression and Separation Anxiety.
Jamie was excited to learn that there was finally a third-party certification for professionals working in Boarding/Daycare facilities and jumped at the opportunity to become a Certified Professional Animal Care Provider (CPACP) in 2018.
Jamie says, “It (third-party certification) was important to me because, as a pet parent myself, I am always looking to hire those that go above and beyond ‘standards’ for my own furry family members. This is how I stumbled upon Paw & Order and it’s amazing facility.”
Jamie has a strong passion for certification and says, “I personally think this certification needs to be mandatory for so many obvious reasons…safety for both human and animals, higher standards, accountability and responsibility, community growth and education….and so much more!”
This year Jamie joined the wonderful group of PACCC Volunteers and became the moderator of the Facebook Provider Level Study Group. She took on this role to help spread awareness and to motivate potential candidates to “keep raising the bar”. Jamie has really enjoyed her role as a PACCC volunteer and says that “Learning about everyone’s skills, abilities and passions has been so heartwarming and I’ve enjoyed every single part of it so far.”
She is very excited to see PACCC grow even more in the new year and years to come!
Welcome to the PACCC Jamie! We are so glad you’re here!!
PACCC Supporter Profile
Meet Cheerful Dogs
Long-term supporters of PACCC, cheerfuldogs.com and cheerfuldogswalking.com (located in Singapore) are currently our 2019 joint Silver Sponsor. Dog Behavior Consultant Nee Kang (Ph.D., CDBC, CPDT-KA, CCFT, CSAT, CPACP, CPACM, CPACO, Fear Free Certified Professional), Founder and Chief Education Officer of cheerfuldogs.com, has served on the PACCC board, contributing her expertise as well as unbounded energy and enthusiasm to the Council. She’s currently also a 2019 Bronze Sponsor. Certified Singapore dog-walker and pet-sitter Jeffrey Lee (Ph.D., CDW, CPPS), owner of cheerfuldogswalking.com, believes strongly in the value of professional certification. Besides earning additional certificates in first aid from Dogsafe and Canine Pet Care Provider from IBPSA, he is preparing to take the PACCC exam.
Why is independent certification important? Nee stresses its critical role in identifying trusted pet care services for the discerning pet parent, while Jeff feels it will help promote evidence-based best practices in the industry for the benefit of dogs and their guardians.
As professionals, continuing education is a priority for both Nee and Jeff. Nee works closely with clients who often struggle to understand their dog’s behavior – from puppy stuff to the challenges of growing up, and behavior challenges in senior and special needs dogs. Continuing education from credible and reputable sources allows her to bring the knowledge and skills from best practices in the pet care industry to her clients and their family dogs. To better cater to the safety, as well as physical and mental wellbeing of his charges, continuing education allows Jeff to continually upgrade his knowledge and skills to deliver the best service to owners and their dogs. Nee and Jeff are 2018 Nominees in the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) Annual Writing Competition, for excellence in the category of Online Article Behavior and Training, for their article,
Check out the websites of cheerfuldogs.com and cheerfuldogswalking.com to find out how high standards of professionalism and best industry practices make Cheerful Dogs, Happy People!
IBPSA Petcare Conference, Fredericton Pet Expo and Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo East
In November, two of PACCC’s Board members attended the Fredericton Pet Expo in New Brunswick, Canada, in support of the Fredericton SPCA. Finally, PACCC attended the trade show in Hershey, PA for the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo. At each of these events, we had the opportunity to
During the IBPSA Petcare Conference, two PACCC Professionals were recognized for their hard work and dedication to our industry. Kim Vaughn,
CPACO from Ruff Housing in Winston Salem NC, took home the highest award in the Multiple Facility category. Additionally,
Are you showcasing PACCC in your community? If so, we would love to hear about it! Drop us a line with a summary of the event and a few pictures so we can share it with others.
Board of Directors – New Members
Amy Hillis
Daycare, with two locations in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Childhood Education from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During her time as a teacher and administrator, she recognized the power of differentiating instruction to meet each child’s individual needs and wanted to translate that to the pet care industry. She opened Social Pet with her husband in 2014 and has brought the Enrichment Daycare platform to the Charlotte area to help enrich the bond between dogs and their families. Amy continues to feed her passion for education by serving as the co-chair of IBPSA’s Education Committee, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas, and is also currently back in graduate school at Queens University of Charlotte earning her Certificate of Leadership and Change. She lives in Ft. Mill, South Carolina with her husband, son, and three dogs.
Michelle (Mickey) Sparacino, CAPCM
Michelle (Mickey) Sparacino, CAPCM, is co-owner of Central Bark 
Exam Update
In November 2019, 51 Pet Care Professionals sat for a PACCC exam. This was the highest number of registrants during one exam cycle we’ve had to date. We are thrilled to announce that from these we had 32 Passing CPACP candidates, 7 CPACM, and 5 CPACO. These include the following:
Certified Professional Animal Care Operator
- KAROLINE BREWER, HURST TX, ANIMAL AMERICA PET RESORT
- DIRK BROERSMA, MAUMEE OH, A WALK IN THE PARK
- JENNIFER DAHINTEN, ORO MEDONTE ONTARIO CANADA, ROYAL PETS HOTEL
- ANN MARCH, WEST BURLINGTON IA, BARK & PLAY
- MARGARET WAKEHAM, MILLCREEK UT, BRICKYARD KENNEL
Certified Professional Animal Care Manager
- KAYLA AARON, WESTFIELD IN, PAWS AND PLAY DOG RESORT
- JENNIFER GIESBRECHT, LEDUC ALBERTA CANADA, PAWS PET PAD
- ANGELA GILDEA, MADISON WI, THE DOG DEN
- STACEY LAMBERT, EUGENE OR, LUCKYDOG DAYCARE
- SHAUNA MARLOWE, DEFOREST WI, DOGTOPIA
- KATIE RINI, EUGENE OR, LUCKYDOG DAYCARE
- KRISTEN RINI, EUGENE OR, LUCKYDOG DAYCARE
Certified Professional Animal Care Provider
- JORDAN AARON, HAWTHORN WOODS IL
- DANIELLE AMATO, HENRICO VA, HOLIDAY BARN
- ALAN BAAR, VIRGINIA BEACH VA
- ROLLY CALABITIN, WAIPAHU HI
- SUMMER CARR-DISHINGER, WESTFIELD IN, PAWS AND PLAY DOG RESORT
- CYNTHIA CARTER, MOBILE AL, WALKS AND WAGS
- BRENDA CHAN, MOUNT PROSPECT IL
- KENDALL DUNCAN, RIVERVIEW FL, CANINE CABANA
- ALICE GIROUX, LOMBARD IL
- MACKENZY GROTH-PRICE, MADISON WI, THE DOG DEN
- MISHELLE HANCOCK, CLAREMORE OK, TAILS A WAGN’
- MADILYN HURRLE, NEW GERMANY MN
- AMELIA JENKS, VIRGINIA BEACH VA
- AMANDA JUNG, KENSINGTON CA, THE BARKMONT
- KIRK JUNG, KENSINGTON CA, THE BARKMONT
- EDWARD KACZMAREK, CHICAGO IL, URBANPOOCH
- CAITLIN KAMPSCHROER, MADISON WI
- ALEXANDRA KASZUBOWSKI, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS IL
- LAUREN KLEIN, WHEELING IL
- MATTHEW KUMPE, SPRINGDALE AR
- TRISTAN KUMPE, SPRINGDALE AR
- JANICE LAFORGA, AIEA HI
- KAHEALANI LIEDERBACH, PEARL CITY HI, TAILS OF HAWAII
- ALYSA MACALUSO, PARK CITY IL
- LEIGH MACARO, TOLEDO OH
- HEATHER MANUEL, KANEOHE HI, TAILS OF HAWAII
- TERI JO OLEAN, SIOUX FALLS SD, SMOKEN DAKOTA KENNELS
- CHADWICK PLATT, SPRINGDALE AR, DOG PARTY USA
- SASHA SANTOS, HONOLULU HI, TAILS OF HAWAII
- DEBRA SCIORTINO, ADDISON IL, A CLOSER BOND
- CODY SHEPARD, DES PLAINES IL
- JODI THEIS, NEW GERMANY MN
2020 EXAM DATES Announced!
March 14 – 28, 2020 (registration by February 15)
June 13 – 27, 2020 (registration by May 15)
November 7 – 21, 2020 (registration by October 15)
See paccert.org/exam-info/ for more information on registration.
Upcoming Webinars
Infection Control and Prevention to Protect the Pets, Your Staff, and Your Pet Care Business – Register Here!
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020 12:00 PM – 1:00pm EST
Presented by: Annette Uda, founder of PetAirapy.
Upcoming Events
The ODD Ball – January 21 & 22, 2020
We are excited to announce that PACCC will be in attendance at the Owners of Dog Daycares (ODD) Ball in New Orleans! This is the 5th year for this conference where Owners and Managers come together for networking, brainstorming and learning. Come visit our booth on the trade show floor on the 21st and 22nd. Learn more about this even at ownersofdogdaycares.com
TDG Summit – March 25 & 26, 2020
The Dog Gurus Summit is taking place in Jacksonville, Florida and PACCC will be there!! This will be the 3rd live event hosted by The Dog Gurus and we are thrilled to have been invited back to talk about the PACCC!
August 2019
Certified Professional Spotlight
Stephanie operates her own pet care facility, Paw & Order, and provides facility consulting services all over North America through Higher Paws. When not at the facility, her time is spent with her 4-month twin girls, Lincoln and Lennon. She enjoys speaking with groups ranging from kindergarten age to seniors about responsible pet ownership, canine communication, providing enrichment for family pets, entrepreneurship and human resources. She does this all while lobbying for tougher animal protection legislation. She is a Certified Animal Care Provider, a Certified Animal Care Operator and a Certified PetTech Instructor.
Congratulations New Certified Pros!
Michael Cillen-Bedoya, CPACP – Orlando, FL
Kathryn Cushing, CPACP – Inverness, IL
Zachary Fuqua, CPACP – North Chesterfield, VA
Jessica Josefchuk, CPACP – Calgary, AB
Kathleen Lawyer, CPACP – Richmond, VA
Elizabeth Linquist, CPACP – Burlington, IA
Richard Martinson, CPACP – Richmond, VA
Mary Medina, CPACP – Richmond, VA
Mary Mullen, CPACP – Richmond, VA
Melissa Peters, CPACP – Lykens, PA
Schylar Postle, CPACP – Ricjmond, VT
Glenda Schroeder, CPACP – Crozier, VA
Jessica Scott, CPACP – Burlington, IA
Daniel Stirling, CPACP – Richmond, VA
Next PACC Exams
Are you ready to join the PACCC?
Continuing Education Deadlines
Reminder for approved CEU programs
Upcoming Events
PACCC Hosted Webinars
All of the PACCC hosted webinars are available at no cost on the PACCC website for you to view and share and all are approved for PACCC CEUs.
If you are planning to attend a local pet expo of pet related event, we would love to hear about it! Maybe you would benefit from some PACCC information or handouts to tell the pet parents in your community all out PACCC!
PACCC Supporter Profile
Meet The Dog Gurus
Since the creation of PACCC, The Dog Gurus (TDG) have shared our vision of independent third-party certification, making it “Safer in a PACCC”. Offering a wide variety of training programs and consulting services, they’ve made a commitment to helping pet care professionals create and maintain a healthier and safer environment for their furry clients. They are truly the industry experts in safe off-leash play!
TDG coaches can talk with you about starting a pet business, operating a daycare, best practices to keep dogs safe, and a wide range of other pet industry topics. If you have specific questions about finance and budgeting, Susan Briggs has the most experience in that area, and if you have questions about dog training services or dog behavior, Robin Bennett may be a good choice for those questions.
Many of the resources listed as a “must have” to prepare for the PACCC Exams come from TDG! With their books, webinars, conference sessions or training programs, TDG have helped numerous industry professionals reach their financial, training and operational goals.
Offering in-person summits and workshops as well as their Signature Programs such as Launch Formula, Growth Intensive Profit Network, TDG have an overwhelming amount of experience and knowledge to offer.
PACCC is extremely proud to have the ongoing support of The Dog Gurus as we go forth with our mission to provide “Certification Pet Parents Can Trust”.
If you or your organization would like to help PACCC spread the word about the importance of independent certification in the pet care industry, we would love to hear from you! You can contact us directly at info@paccert.org.
Social Media Updates
Share your pictures, memes, questions and advice!
Did you see our newest PACCC PSA?
Where Are You?
Have Something to Say?
Share your knowledge!
MAY 2019
Certified Professional Spotlight
Kelsea Shaw, CPACP, of Corpus Christi, Texas, lives in her hometown with her girlfriend of over 10 years and their 4-legged fur kids: 10-year old terrier mix, Charlestein McFarley, and 3-year old tuxedo cat, Bean Nugget. Kelsea’s career in pet care began in 2010 when she worked as a kennel tech and dog bather and supervised small group play at The Pooch Pad. In 2011, she joined the team at Barkaritaville Pet Resort, starting as receptionist and moving into lodging, bathing, and daycare before being promoted to Lodging Manager in 2017 and then to Operations Specialist in 2018. Her breadth of experience makes her perfectly suited for her current role where she fills in for all departments (Lodging, Customer Service, Daycare, Bathing), fine tunes department processes, writes protocols, and assists with administrative needs. As Kelsea puts it, “you name it, I probably do it!”
Exam Update
Next exam dates and getting ready
CEU Update/Deadlines
Tips and reminders to stay certified
Upcoming Events
Free Webinar
The PACCC Live!
PACCC Supporter Profile
A Few More Bits..
Getting Social
Did you see our newest PACCC PSA?
Where Are You?
FEBRUARY 2019
Certified Professional Spotlight
Meet Kari Campbell, CPACO
Born in Santiago, Chile, and raised in Washington, Kari Campbell’s unique upbringing is matched by her unique professional experience as an accomplished opera singer, with an educational background in vocal performance. Having toured through Japan, Europe, and the United States, she has performed with several opera companies and orchestras. Although her education and singing experiences have been very rewarding, her lifelong dream has been to work with animals. In 2005, Kari founded Dog Tired Doggie Daycare in Anchorage, Alaska. Kari’s facility is a bright and vibrant place for pups to play, with the health, safety, and well-being of her guests remaining her top priority. Her passion is to provide the highest level of care for her clients through education, compassion, and communication. She shares her life with a Pug/Boxer, Tobe, and a French Bulldog, Newton.
Learn more about Kari and why she became PACCC certified on our blog.
Exam Update
Next exam dates and getting ready
The PACCC is definitely growing with each and every round of exams and we couldn’t be happier. Currently, there are 104 Certified Professional Animal Care Providers (CPACP), 14 Certified Professional Animal Care Managers (CPACM), and 8 Certified Professional Animal Care Operators (CPACO) from all over North America and overseas.
Are you ready to join the PACCC?
The next round of PACCC exams takes place between March 23 – April 6, 2019, and registration for this testing window closes on February 28, 2019. There is also an exam window in June 2019 and again in November 2019 but why wait? To learn more about registering now, visit https://paccert.org/exam-info.
They say practice makes perfect
An excellent way to highlight your areas of knowledge that could use a little extra review time and, at the same time become familiar with how exam questions are formatted, is to take a PACCC Practice Exam online in the comfort of your own home or office. Registration for the practice exam is quick and easy so do. Visit paccert.org/practice-exams for more information.
CEU Update/Deadlines
Tips and reminders to stay certified
In 2019, our very first CPACPs will be renewing their certification at the end of 2019 and extending their CPACP credential for another three years. The Recertification Handbook and the CEU Tracking Form are available on the the PACCC website. You can also submit your Application for Recertification online. For more information about recertification, visit paccert.org/recertification.
A quick reminder for all certified professionals, don’t forget to keep track of your CEUs as you accumulate them so you can get credit for all of the learning and education. There are currently 50+ courses and learning activities approved for PACCC recertification with more being added every month. If you think that you have a local course/learning/workshop that should be considered as an approved PACCC CEU, you can always submit to have it approved by the PACCC. Check out the CEU page on the PACCC website for more details at paccert.org/ceu.
Upcoming Events
PACCC had a terrific summer and fall in 2018 gaining great exposure at some fabulous events. You may have seen us at the IBPSA Pet Care Services Educational Conference & Trade Show in St. Louis, Missouri, or at the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We had a terrific response from the attendees and were able to put some certified names to faces who visited with us. We are also planning to meet some more of our certified professionals at The Dog Gurus Business Growth & Dog Behavior Summit taking place March 27-28, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, and others at the Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo West April 29 – May 2, 2019, in Burbank, California.
If you plan to attend a local pet expo or pet related event, we would love to hear all about it! Maybe you would benefit from some PACCC information or handouts to tell the pet parents in your community all about PACCC? If so, please contact Alana at alana.paccc@gmail.com for official ready-to-print marketing materials.
PACCC Supporter Profile
As a not-for-profit organization, we rely heavily on the support of individuals and organizations to assist PACCC in spreading the word about the importance of obtaining independent certification in the pet care industry. Which is why we would love to share with you some information about these generous organizations that believe in PACCC’s mission and vision. Meet…
Dog*Biz has been an invaluable supporter of PACCC by helping people in the pet industry understand the importance of certification. Dog*Biz offers a wide array of resources for pet care professionals, from website and logo design to various toolkits for just about every aspect of a pet care business including dog trainers, walkers, and sitters, as well as for boarding and daycare facilities. Recently, Dog*Biz launched Dog Walking Academy (DWA, a fantastic program (also approved for 24 PACCC CEUs) ) that can be taken either by attending a 3-day live session in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia OR online at your own pace with the opportunity to attend conference calls to have your individual questions answered.
Dog*Biz recently celebrated their 15th successful year in business and offers an excellent support network for their clients. They remain committed to community education and, since launching the first class of its kind in 2004, continue to set the bar for dog walking education..
Pro tip: You can subscribe to their “Monthly Minute” business tip for trainers and dog professional and/or “Two Feet Forward” business and walking tips for dog walkers. Check out their website at dogbizsuccess.com.
We Couldn’t Do It Without You
PACCC is a non-profit on a safe pet mission and we couldn’t do it without you. Whether you donate once or you become one of our monthly donors, thank you! We make every penny count for the pets.