Philadelphia Native Starts Innovative Dog-Sitting Business
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There's a new alternative to dog kennels. A business has been unleashed in about 12 cities nationwide that matches your dog with a host to watch your pet in their home.
"Instead of putting a dog in a cage for 23 hours a day, we got hosts to watch the dog," explains Aaron Hirschhorn, who grew up in Center City, Philadelphia.
He now lives in Santa Monica California, and he started www.dogvacay.com about three months ago. The service was launched in this area this month, and there are 200 "hosts" that have already been screened and are ready to watch your pet in a home environment.
"We got hosts who watch the dog in their own home, like a member of the family. Because people set their own rates, the prices are much more affordable—about $15 a night for a smaller dog in an apartment, up to maybe $40 or $45 in a big home with a yard."
And he says more www.dogvacay.com "hosts" are needed.
"There is an online application process. We have instructional training, and we also have a comprehensive insurance policy that covers your dog and the host's dogs as well."
