Florida Pet Services Association returns to Jacksonville for its 2026 'Bridges' Summit

Florida's pet care professionals have an August anchor on the 2026 calendar. The Florida Pet Services Association brings its annual Summit back to the Jacksonville Humane Society August 13–15 under the theme "Bridges," with early-bird ticket pricing closing May 31.

FPSA's 2026 Summit lands in Jacksonville August 13–15

The Florida Pet Services Association is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by working pet care professionals to support, educate, and advocate for pet care businesses across Florida. Its annual Summit is the organization's flagship event.

The 2026 edition runs three days at the Jacksonville Humane Society, with programming aimed at pet sitters, dog walkers, trainers, groomers, boarding facilities, daycares, veterinarians, rescues, and pet-industry vendors. Educational sessions, business and operations content, networking opportunities, sponsor and vendor engagement, and a multi-hour hiring intensive on August 13 are all on the schedule.

This year's theme, "Bridges," frames the Summit around connecting business, education, advocacy, technology, leadership, and community across the pet care profession in Florida and beyond.

"Pet care businesses are navigating a rapidly changing industry," said Savanna Westwood, President of FPSA and owner of The Savvy Sitter. "Our goal with the Summit is to create a welcoming space where pet care professionals and businesses of all backgrounds can learn, connect, collaborate, and grow together while continuing to elevate the standards and visibility of professional pet care."

Featured speakers, the full schedule, sponsor and vendor listings, hotel information, and ticketing are all live on the FPSA website.

Florida's Summit joins a small group of state-level pet-services events

Most professional infrastructure for pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, and daycare operators sits at the national level. Pet Sitters International (founded 1994) and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (founded 1989) anchor certification, education, and community across the country. State-level peers are a smaller group. The Texas Pet Sitters Association runs a comparable annual conference, and California has long-standing regional bodies like the East Bay Pet Services Association. FPSA sits in that small set of state-organized professional bodies, with the 501(c)(3) structure pushing it toward the education-and-advocacy end of the spectrum rather than pure trade-association posture.

Dates, tickets, and Summit links

Two dates anchor the calendar: May 31 for early-bird pricing, and August 13–15 for the event itself.

• Event: 2026 FPSA Summit
• Dates: August 13–15, 2026
• Location: Jacksonville Humane Society, Jacksonville, Florida
• Early-bird deadline: May 31, 2026
• Website: flpetassociation.org
• Tickets: Cheddar Up registration page
• Speakers: flpetassociation.org/home/speakers
• Sponsors: flpetassociation.org/home/sponsors
• Hotel: Homewood Suites group rate

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Sponsorship inquiries, vendor signups, and continuing-education questions are all routed through the FPSA website. Discounted hotel accommodations are tied to early registration.

Source: Florida Pet Services Association company-submitted announcement, May 20, 2026. Event and organization details verified against the FPSA website and Summit registration pages.

This news brief is based on a company-submitted announcement. The Underbite verifies claims where possible but cannot independently confirm all details.