KIRO NEWSRADIO: SEATTLE NEWS & ANALYSIS

A Slumber Party For Your Pooch When You’re Out of Town

May 6, 2014, 6:03 PM | Updated: Oct 11, 2024, 10:31 am

Co-founder Tina Myers, and her pups, at home....

Co-founder Tina Myers, and her pups, at home.

Fact: There are more dogs than children in Seattle. Fact: According to Amazon.com, Seattleites spend more money on their pets than any other major city in the country, except for Miami.

So why would you put your dog in a kennel when your pup can enjoy the comforts of someone else’s home?

Introducing Sleepover Rover, a sort of Air BnB for dogs.

“We have a network of stay-at-home dog lovers and they will welcome a dog into their home,” said co-founder Tina Myers. “So let’s say you were going away, you would call us and we’d find out about you and your dog and we would introduce you to someone in your neighborhood that you can go and meet, pre-screen, and leave your dog there with them so you wouldn’t have to leave your dog in the kennel.”

Tina just expanded Sleepover Rover to Seattle so they are actively looking for dog hosts who spend a good amount of time at home.

“We don’t want a host to take a dog in at eight o’clock in the morning and then be gone until six. We ask that they don’t have full time employment outside the home. Now that doesn’t mean they don’t get to go to the grocery store or to the movies. But we do want them available to support that dog because there is sometimes some separation anxiety.”

All of the dog hosts are all pre-screened, and once approved you can scan their profiles online.

“Every single one of our pet hosts go through a face-to-face in-home interview with our local market rep. The market rep takes pictures of them so we can have a representation of what they look like; their home, their yard. The market rep is trained to look around, make sure there aren’t any hazards, make sure the yard is escape proof and do a little bit of preliminary training while they’re there with the perspective host.”

West Seattle’s Antonia Fitzgerald has three dogs of her own, but she loves having other dogs stay at her house.

“It is the first thing I felt really good at, taking care of dogs. I had a couple dogs that stayed with me and they were very shy, and they stayed with me for about two weeks. By the time the parents came back, these dogs were sleeping with me and these people could not believe it. These dogs have never reacted that way to another person.”

Tina says it’s a win-win-win: The dog gets a comfortable place to stay, the owners feel safe leaving the dog and the hosts also reap the benefits.

“Many of our hosts have their own pets and many of them are looking for play dates with their dogs because their dogs love other dogs. A lot of our pet hosts used to have dogs and they’re in a stage of their lives where perhaps it doesn’t fit. But they want to have the client’s dog come over and spend some time with them.”

The idea is for the pets routine to stay the same.

“The [client] does bring the food with them. They frequently bring the dog bed, they bring the toys, they bring the treats. Sometimes they’re bringing medication. We have hosts who will actually administer insulin injections for diabetic dogs.”

And if you’re staying at Antonia’s house, the dogs can get pretty cozy.

“A lot of people sleep with their dogs and they get lonely not sleeping with a person. So if the dogs want to sleep on my bed and try and find room with my dogs on there, then that’s great.”

Rover.com is a similar service, based in Seattle.

KIRO Newsradio: Seattle News & Analysis

Photo: Gee Scott roasted Velveeta cheese ahead of Super Bowl Sunday....

Frank Lenzi

‘Your food is unseasoned’: Gee Scott roasts Velveeta lovers ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

If you’re looking for a Super Bowl Party where the hosts are serving Velveeta, you won’t find it at Gee Scott's house.

3 days ago

Photo: Seattle Children's Hospital is one hospital impacted by Trump's executive order blocking fed...

Julia Dallas

‘It’s disgusting’: WA Attorney General’s Office sparks legal battle against Trump order on gender-affirming care

The AG's Office announced it is filing a lawsuit to stop an executive order from the Trump administration that halts federal funding for gender-affirming care.

3 days ago

Photo: Sweden's Martin Haarahiltunen in red is riding inside Finland's Max Koivula and Austria's Fr...

Paul Holden

Weekend festivities: Undie run, pinball, ice racing and more!

Maybe you've been stuck inside this week enjoying the snow and are ready to get out and enjoy the weekend, well you are in luck!

4 days ago

Photo: Seattle Sounders FC fans cheers for his team at the stadium during the match between Toronto...

Matt Markovich

A fart tax? State lawmaker suggests sports fans pay up for methane emissions

A Republican lawmaker made an unusual suggestion during a public hearing Thursday on a bill that could lead to a fart tax on cows.

4 days ago

Photo: A cell in the King County Jail can be seen in a recent photo....

Matt Markovich

Justice vs. safety: Washington lawmakers clash over sentencing reform bill

A bill advanced in Olympia that may lead to a floor vote on one of the most significant law and justice bills of this session. It involves sentencing reform.

4 days ago

Photo: Housing in Seattle, Washington....

Matt Markovich

Washington bill takes aim at corporate homebuyers, tries to level playing field for families

In a move to preserve homeownership opportunities and combat escalating housing prices, a new bill — Senate Bill 5496 — has been introduced in Washington.

5 days ago

A Slumber Party For Your Pooch When You’re Out of Town