Academy of Pet Careers wins BBB Torch Award for Ethics

The Academy of Pet Careers in St. Charles, Missouri, earned the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics in 2026, adding to a year of honors for the pet career trade school. The award highlights APC’s long-running emphasis on ethical conduct, student training and animal care.

Why it matters: - The Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics is a credibility signal for companies judged on trust, culture and community impact. - The award gives The Academy of Pet Careers a third-party endorsement of its business practices and classroom standards. - APC’s win adds to a stacked 2026 awards slate, which can strengthen the school’s reputation with prospective students and employers.

What happened: - The Academy of Pet Careers won the BBB Torch Award for Ethics in 2026. - The St. Charles, Missouri, trade school teaches pet career education. - Joseph Schifano, president of APC, said the award recognizes the school’s daily commitment to doing the right thing. - Schifano said ethics shapes how APC builds programs, teaches students and cares for animals.

The details: - The BBB Torch Award was created in the 1990s to honor for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations for professional conduct with employees, the community and their industry. - The Better Business Bureau awards the honor to businesses committed to operating ethically. - Nominees are judged on the “Four C’s”: character, culture, customers and community. - Eligibility requires at least three years in business and a BBB rating of at least B. - APC has been in business for 33 years and holds an A+ BBB rating. - The award is APC’s first from the BBB. - APC also won three other awards in 2026: #1 trade school in St. Charles, Best Pet Career Education Provider and Best Higher Education Provider. - APC says its Pet Empowerment Framework teaches students to work with animals gently and humanely while building a strong bond with the animal. - APC was founded in 1993 and serves aspiring pet professionals in the greater St. Louis area and across the nation. - APC offers certifications in dog grooming, dog training and veterinary assisting. - APC lists a 5-star rating in its boilerplate materials.

Between the lines: - The BBB recognition broadens APC’s validation beyond local or niche industry awards. - The school’s emphasis on humane animal handling aligns with the ethics focus that helped support the win. - The 2026 awards suggest APC is using external recognition to reinforce its positioning in a competitive training market.

What's next: - APC is likely to lean on the BBB honor in future recruiting and marketing efforts. - The school’s next reputational test will be whether the award converts into stronger enrollment and broader industry visibility. - APC will continue promoting its pet career programs and ethical training model to students nationwide.