Celebrating This Year’s IBBY Winners

Raising the Bar in Pet Care: Highlights from IBPSA 2025 and the IBBY Winners

The pet care industry continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, and at its heart lies a community of professionals striving for excellence—for the animals in their care, for their teams, and for pet owners. This year’s International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA) annual gathering proved once again why it’s a cornerstone event for the sector.

The Forum: Where Pet Care Pros Convene

From September 21–23, 2025, pet care professionals gathered in Iselin, New Jersey for The Forum, IBPSA’s signature annual conference. It’s at this event that the industry unites—boarders, daycares, trainers, vet clinics, pet sitters, and vendor partners—all under one roof. In addition to education tracks and networking, one of the signature draws is the presentation of the Pet Care Business Excellence Awards, also known as the IBBYs.

These awards honor businesses and individuals who embody excellence in several critical dimensions:

• Vision & leadership
• Animal welfare
• Company & employee culture
• Customer service
• Community involvement
• Commitment to growth, learning, and innovation 

To be nominated, a pet care business must have been in operation for at least three years, and IBPSA members may also nominate vendor or industry partners who significantly support the sector. Finalists go through a rigorous evaluation process, including video interviews to determine who best matches the qualifications the IBBY puts forward.

One of the standout stories this year involves the Industry Partner Award winner: K9Grass by ForeverLawn.

When given the award, Ken Karmie, Brand Leader of K9Grass, said: 

“Receiving the Excellence Award for Business Partner from the International Boarding and Pet Services Association is a tremendous honor. It is confirmation of the positive impact K9Grass solutions have had on this industry. We appreciate the strategic partnerships we have formed and are proud to be recognized alongside other noteworthy businesses and partners.” (GlobeNewswire)

K9Grass by ForeverLawn, the synthetic turf designed for canine environments, caught the attention of the selection committee with its innovative portfolio, strong industry partnerships, and commitment to welfare and sustainability. Their award—presented at The Forum—underscores how even adjacent service providers (vendors, product specialists) are integral to advancing standards in pet care. 

Overall, the 2025 IBBY winners reflect both diversity and excellence across the industry. Some notable recipients include:

• Small Facility (1–15 employees): Aly’s Puppy Boot Camp, Arroyo Grande, CA 
• Medium Facility (16–49 employees): Luckydog Day & Night Care, Springfield, OR 
• Large Facility (50+ employees): ABC Pet Resort & Spa, Houston, TX
• Independent Provider: Noosa Country Cat Lodge, Queensland, Australia 
• Industry Leader Award: Steven & Jason Parker, co-founders of K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotels

We at ForeverLawn are proud to share the stage with so many prestigious and influential voices in the industry and are grateful to the International Boarding & Pet Services Association for recognizing our efforts to create safer, cleaner spaces.