Peer-to-peer petsitting service

For committed pet owners, the joy of holidays is often diminished by the guilt associated with leaving a faithful friend behind in strangers’ hands. Aiming to spare pets and their owners the anguish that can result, SwapaDog is a new network that helps dog owners in the same area connect and exchange pet care when they go out of town. With sites serving both the UK and the US, SwapaDog provides pet owners with a way to find other like-minded members in their area so that they can get to know each other and agree to exchange pet-sitting services when the need arises. Basic membership on the site—offering access to an array of dog-related tips, discounts, news and links—is free, while introductory pricing on a full membership, including access to other members, begins at GPB 9.97 or USD 17 for one year. (Ultimately, a full annual membership will cost GBP 25 or USD 47.) The result, SwapaDog says, is not just better pet care for the dog and less worry on owners’ part, but also savings of some GBP 200—or USD 370—per dog in kennel bills for a two-week stay. Beyond lending, peer-to-peer services have already extended to include mentoring, camping and shipping; why not pet care too? One to bring to the rest of the canine-friendly world…? (Related: Social networking for dogs — RFID collar tag helps dog owners meet new friends — Flexible pet ownership.) Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann