HouseMyDog, the online service that matches dog owners with suitable, hand-picked sitters and walkers, has launched in Manchester. HouseMyDog expects to create up to 4,500 paid dog sitter/walker jobs across Greater Manchester over the next two years.
HouseMyDog works much like Airbnb, allowing dog owners to search vetted and reliable dog sitters and dog walkers in their area. They can then message and book securely through the website or app and travel relaxed knowing their dog will be covered with veterinary care, 24/7 support as well as photo and message updates with every booking. All HouseMyDog sitters and walkers are thoroughly vetted by HouseMyDog and dog owners can also view full profiles, photos and reviews from other dog owners for each dog sitter or walker.
HouseMyDog is the brainchild of brothers Timothy and James McElroy, who spotted a gap in the sector for this type of service when they struggled to find a sitter for their pet dog Holly. Since 2015, HouseMyDog has grown from a small community in Dublin to over 30 cities throughout Ireland, the UK, and Germany.
Timothy McElroy, said: “We’re a nation of animal lovers – in the UK over 56% of households are pet owners and pets are very much key members of our family. Naturally, owners want the very best possible care for their dogs. They are now demanding more choice and trust and want their pooch to have their own holiday too- somewhere fun, safe and where they will be treated like a member of the family.
“With over a quarter of households in Manchester having a dog as a pet, (27%), Manchester is the natural choice for the next stage of our expansion. Our own in-depth research estimates over £350 million is spent on the 365,000 dogs in Manchester each year. With new technology in the pet care sector set to increase frequency of bookings, we estimate there is room for up to 4,500 additional dog sitters and walkers over the next couple of years, allowing people to earn money while doing something they really enjoy. Equally, owners have peace of mind over their pet’s care. We’re really excited to be bringing HouseMyDog to the city and wider Greater Manchester region.”
