Episode 26: How To Get Pet CPR First Aid Certification Online

In this episode of "Bella In Your Business", Bella speaks with Cara Armour,Product Manager with ProTrainings a pet cpr and first aid online training program for pet business owners. In 2003 Cara Armour co-founded Active Paws Inc., in the Boston, MA area. In 2009, Cara won Pet Sitter of the Year. She is decorated in many accolades and even expanded to opening a grooming and holistic pet supply store.     Since 2003, Cara has been trained by the American Red Cross as well as several veterinarians in Pet First Aid and CPR. In 2011 she completed an instructor training course and became a certified Pet First Aid and CPR instructor. In 2015 she co-founded an online Pet First Aid academy and now works as a product and marketing manager for ProPetHero, the Pet First Aid and CPR division of ProTrainings. She is also a volunteer and foster home for The Boxer Rescue Inc, a health conscious breeder of Boxers. Bella and Cara talk about Pet First Aid and how to go about training you and your staff. They discuss the benefits of being trained which are: Being able to save the lives of your pets or pet clients. Learning to recognize potential issues with a pet and bring that to the owner’s attention. Being able to use that trained status to attract more clients. They talk about how an online training course, such as the one Bella was even able to secure a special discount for “Bella in your Business” fans. You can get 10% off by going to here. Coupon code: CPR-petsitter Subscribe To The Show: Transcript: This is episode 26 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready—Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta and I’ve got a treat for you today. I don’t know if any of you pet business owners know, but the Red Cross is doing away with their pet first aid CPR classes. So how do we get ourselves and our staff trained properly for pet first aid? Well, I’ve got a solution for you today, and I’ve got Kara Armert joining me to explain all about it. It’s an awesome solution that can be done online without spending days waiting for a meeting, driving for hours, or sitting in a conference room. Kara is the co-founder of Active Paws in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2009, she won Pet Sitter of the Year and has expanded her business to include a grooming and holistic pet supply store. Since 2003, she has been trained by the American Red Cross and several veterinarians in pet first aid and CPR. In 2011, she completed an instructor training course and became a certified pet first aid CPR instructor. She also co-founded an online pet first aid course and now works as a product manager for ProPet Hero, the pet first aid and CPR division of ProTraining. She even volunteers with the boxer rescue. Kara explains that ProPet Hero is an online pet first aid and CPR certification course produced by ProTraining, the first company to bring human first aid and CPR training to the internet. ProTraining has since developed to include blended learning options, and in 2016, they introduced ProPet Hero. It’s the only course on the market developed, taught, and written by a doctor of veterinary medicine who is also a professor at the University of Florida. The course focuses on the most common emergencies with small and large dogs as well as cats. Bella asks about the benefits of an online course versus in-person training. Kara admits she was skeptical at first but found that online learning is actually a step above. You can learn at your own pace, rewatch lessons, and take it anywhere—even in your pajamas at night. There are no geographic limitations or distractions, and the course uses live animals instead of stuffed ones. It allows learners to see the instructor at their best, thanks to professional editing. Kara explains that businesses can use a company dashboard. Owners can buy courses for their staff, assign them through email, and track their progress. The system tests retention and requires an 80% score to pass. If an employee leaves before finishing, the course can be transferred. The platform even offers group discounts. Bella highlights how this can also be used as a marketing advantage—pet sitting businesses can say their entire team is CPR-certified, setting them apart from competitors. Kara agrees and adds that the online learning model aligns perfectly with how people learn today—through videos and on-demand education. Kara shares success stories: one pet sitter saved a dog choking on a rawhide, earning flowers from grateful clients. Another business used the training to save a dog that nearly drowned during an aquatic therapy session. She also talks about how the training sharpens awareness—helping her notice early signs of illness in client pets, such as mammary cancer or constipation, before owners even realized there was a problem. Kara emphasizes that she’s not a veterinarian, but a pet business owner who educated herself and her team. The training helps build trust and peace of mind with clients. She adds that ProPet Hero plans to expand with instructor certifications, so others can teach locally if they wish. Bella mentions that Kara has provided a coupon for 10% off, which can be accessed at jumpconsulting.net/propethero. Kara notes that the course offers two years of access, downloadable manuals, subtitles, and short, easy-to-digest videos—perfect for pet professionals to revisit anytime they need a refresher. Bella suggests that pet business owners showcase their team’s certificates on their websites and social media as proof of their professionalism. Kara confirms that even independent contractors can take the course through their company’s bulk-purchase discount. Bella thanks Kara for joining and invites her back for another episode. Kara agrees and provides her contact information via email for listeners who want to reach her. Bella closes by reminding everyone to subscribe, join her Facebook communities for pet sitters and pet sitters with staff, and always keep jumping.