What does local collaboration mean in 2025 and beyond? Why should pet sitters care about it? Kristin Holzapfel, founder of Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates, joins us to share her journey of building a thriving community of pet sitters across the Midwest. She talks about the importance of educating both pet sitters and clients, how to move beyond third-party platforms, and why fostering an open-minded, collaborative culture matters for the future of the pet care industry. We cover how local organizations can raise industry standards, support professional growth, and create lasting connections that benefit sitters, clients, and communities alike.
Main Topics:
-
Founding Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates
-
Transitioning off third-party platforms
-
Building a local educational community
-
Handling client referrals & connections
-
Upcoming Pet Professional Summit goals
Main Takeaway: “We are not here to tell people how to operate their businesses. We want everyone to find the right fit for themselves and their clients.”
Running a pet care business isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every business owner and every pet has unique needs. That’s why at Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates, we embrace open-mindedness and foster a culture of support—not judgment. Whether you’re pen-and-paper or software-driven, whether you serve city clients or rural communities, your approach matters. It’s about helping everyone find what works best for them and their clients. Because when we collaborate instead of compete, our entire industry gets stronger.
About our guest: Kristin Holzapfel is the founder and executive director of Midwest Pet Sitter Affiliates (MPSA). A professional pet sitter since 2017 and owner of Pampered Pepperinos & Pals, Kristin specializes in reactive dog care and education. Passionate about building supportive communities, she launched MPSA to help raise industry standards, promote collaboration, and connect pet sitters across the Midwest. Kristin also teaches pet CPR and first aid and actively engages in local and regional pet care initiatives.
Links:
https://www.midwestpetsitteraffiliates.com
https://www.facebook.com/MidwestPSA
https://www.instagram.com/midwestpetsitteraffiliates
Check out ProTrainings
Code: CPR-petsitterconfessional for 10% off
📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260
Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com
Full show notes and transcript
Sponsored by:
❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters
Time to Pet
Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional
Code: 50% off first 3 months
Pet Perennials
Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account
Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.