Three days of seminars, hands-on learning, and discussions led by industry experts. Walk away with business and operational tools to better care for the pets in your community.
Hyatt Place Houston / The Woodlands
Created by pet professionals, for pet professionals. Since 2016, the Texas Pet Sitters Conference has been the affordable, high-quality event where pet sitters, dog walkers, home boarding companies, trainers, and groomers come to sharpen their skills and grow their businesses.
Our growing community of pet care professionals at the Texas Pet Sitters Association Conference 2026
Industry veterans cover pet first aid, business operations, marketing, client management, and the latest pet care protocols. Practical knowledge you can put to work the day you get home.
Most of our attendees come from outside Texas. Connect with pet care professionals from across the country who understand your daily challenges. Build referral relationships that last.
A grass-roots conference that proves quality doesn't have to break the bank. Three full days of presentations, workshops, and networking at a price point that respects your bottom line.
A veterinarian, a CPA, a cyber security professor, a behavior specialist, and owners who have built and sold pet care businesses. Every session gives you something you can use the week you get home.
Founder, Vida Pharmacal · Spring Branch, TX
A veterinarian and researcher whose work centers on canine Chagas disease and Leishmania, including new diagnostic methods and treatments. He served as principal scientist for the Canine Chagas Treatment Study at Lackland Air Force Base and is Chief Medical Officer at The Animal Hospital of Smithson Valley.
Session
Kissing Bugs, Chagas & Pets: What Texas Pet Professionals Need to Know
Founder, C-squared Accounting
A CPA with more than a decade of experience, Chanté runs an accounting firm built for the pet industry. She helps owners of every size reduce their tax burden, raise profitability, and make better financial decisions.
Session
Reduce Your Tax Bite: Strategies to Protect Profits
Founder, Covered in Pet Hair · El Paso, TX
An award-winning pet industry marketer, speaker, and content strategist with a background in journalism and podcasting. She works with pet care professionals across the country to build trust, raise online visibility, and attract qualified clients.
Session
Become the Trusted Local Pet Expert: How to Build Authority That Attracts More Clients
Associate Professor, Schreiner University
Bill teaches management at Schreiner University and previously taught in the Information Systems and Cyber Security department at UTSA. He worked on banking systems at USAA and is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer who made several combat deployments.
Session
Mitigating Modern Risks: Cyber Security and Operational Safety in Pet Sitting
Founder, DogCo Launch
Michelle doubled her dog walking company's size and profit margins in a single year, then sold the 25-staff, 600-client business in 2023. She founded DogCo Launch and has since worked with more than 300 team-based pet care companies.
Session
Lead Flow Was Never the Bottleneck: Why Delaying Gratification is the Real Growth Strategy
Founder, Positive Pooch Behavior · CDBC, CSAT, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP
Fanna specializes in canine separation anxiety and compulsive disorders, with more than a decade inside a veterinary behavior practice. She chaired the APDT in 2022 and helped build training education for over 2,000 dog trainers.
Two Sessions
Drama-Free Walks: When Dogs Have Other Plans
Creating Calm Interactions: When Excited Dogs Can't Contain Themselves
Instructor, Calibre Press · Georgetown, TX
Kelly spent 30 years in Texas law enforcement and retired as a patrol commander in Georgetown. He now teaches de-escalation and human communication full time, and he has instructed across the United States and Canada.
Session
…and Then There's Gen Z
Alameda Internet Marketing · Frisco, TX
Ross runs Alameda Internet Marketing and works with pet care businesses on search visibility and lead generation. His session covers how a pet sitting business gets found when people ask an AI tool for a recommendation.
Session
How to Increase Visibility in AI Search for Your Pet Sitting Business
Panel members will be announced soon. A few session descriptions are still on the way.
Three packed days of learning and connection.
1:00 – 1:15
Welcome to the Conference
Opening comments
1:15 – 2:45
Kissing Bugs, Chagas & Pets: What Texas Pet Professionals Need to Know
Dr. Roy Madigan, D.V.M.
2:45 – 3:00
Break
3:00 – 4:00
Reduce Your Tax Bite: Strategies to Protect Profits
Chanté Dawston, CPA
4:00 – 5:00
Become the Trusted Local Pet Expert: How to Build Authority That Attracts More Clients
Isabel Alvarez Arata
5:00 – 7:00
Happy Hour
9:00 – 10:00
Mitigating Modern Risks: Cyber Security and Operational Safety in Pet Sitting
Dr. Bill Pugh
10:00 – 11:00
Lead Flow Was Never the Bottleneck: Why Delaying Gratification is the Real Growth Strategy
Michelle Kline
11:00 – 11:15
Break
11:15 – 12:15
Drama-Free Walks: When Dogs Have Other Plans
Fanna Easter
12:15 – 2:00
Lunch Provided and Networking
2:00 – 3:30
…and Then There's Gen Z
Lt. Kelly DeVoll (Ret.)
3:30 – 5:00
Navigating Client Communication, Expectations and Trust
Panel Discussion
9:00 – 10:00
Creating Calm Interactions: When Excited Dogs Can't Contain Themselves
Fanna Easter
10:00 – 11:00
How to Increase Visibility in AI Search for Your Pet Sitting Business
Ross Taylor
11:00 – 11:30
Closing Comments
All times are Central. Sessions and times may change before the conference.
Video showing an aerial view of the Hyatt Place Houston / The Woodlands hotel, the conference venue.
1909 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380
February 19 – 21, 2027 (Friday through Sunday)
Stay where the conference happens. Book your room at our special conference rate.
Diamond Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor of the 2027 Texas Pet Sitters Conference
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Interested in sponsoring or vending at the 2027 conference? Contact us at txpetsitters@gmail.com.
Founded in 2016 by business women in South Central Texas, the TPSA was created to give pet care professionals access to affordable, high-quality education and community. What started as a regional gathering has grown into a nationally attended event, now entering its 12th year.
Board President & Conference Co-Founder
Cathy Vaughan is the owner and founder of Cathy's Critter Care, a professional pet sitting and dog walking company serving San Antonio and surrounding communities since 1998.
Cathy was named Pet Sitters International's Pet Sitter of the Year in 2018 and has spent nearly three decades helping raise the standards of professional pet care.
Cathy is also a cofounder of the Texas Pet Sitters Association, created to connect, educate, and support professional pet sitters across Texas. Through TPSA and the Texas Pet Sitters Conference, Cathy especially enjoys bringing pet-care business owners together to learn from one another and build stronger businesses and a stronger industry.
Before starting Cathy's Critter Care, Cathy worked at the San Antonio Zoo and earned a degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Texas State University. Her career has continued to combine the two things she knows best: people and pets.
Outside of work, Cathy enjoys spending time with her husband, Phillip, their children and grandchildren, traveling, being outdoors, and, of course, surrounding herself with animals. She loves new adventures, time with family and friends, and finding ways to make a positive difference for pets and the people who care for them.
Board Secretary & Conference Co-Organizer
Owner of Deanna's Dog House in Spring Branch, TX. Left the corporate world to build her pet care and in-home boarding businesses. Passionate about connecting pet parents with rescued dogs.
Malaysia, Board Member · Jonathan, Volunteer Support
Owners of Paw Time Favorite Pet Sitting, a family-owned professional pet-care company founded in 2023. Paw Time Favorite was named a 2024 Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite and, in 2026, one of the top 5 dog-walking companies in San Antonio, offering a trained, insured, and professional pet-care team.
Malaysia brings 8+ years of veterinary and animal-care experience, while Jonathan plays an integral role in the company's growth and operations. They are passionate about continuing education, professional standards, networking, and building a stronger pet-care community.
They love attending conferences because they believe there is always more to learn and that sharing connection, knowledge, and experiences makes the entire pet-care industry stronger.
Join a community of pet care professionals dedicated to raising the bar in the industry. TPSA members get conference updates, networking opportunities, and exclusive member resources.
Contact us about membershipEverything you need to know about the conference, venue, and registration.
Three days of education, connection, and inspiration. Registration is open now.
