WASHINGTON — An estimated 93,000 dogs live with their humans in the District, and a new app aims to get them more walks.
Wag!, an on-demand dog-walking app, connects dog owners with vetted and background-checked dog walkers with as little as 30 minutes notice.
The app lets owners track their dogs’ walks in real time using GPS. It also includes a “pee and poop report,” marking exactly where a dog does its business, and a “pup report” that includes a picture of the dog and a map showing the exact walk once it’s done.
Wag! charges $20 to $30 for a 30-minute walk, and another $5 per additional dog in the same household.
Wag!, which launched last year in Los Angeles, has since added San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago and Denver.
Dog walkers are insured and bonded.
“Finding a trusted dog walker can be tough, especially for those who are new to the District or burning the midnight oil on Capitol Hill,” said Jason Meltzer, co-founder and chief dog walker of Wag!. “For time-crunched pet owners here, Wag! delivers peace-of-mind by essentially putting a trusted and insured dog walker in their pocket.”
Wag! also uses its platform to promote pet adoption and will partner with Washington area animal shelters to donate walks to new pet owners.
Wag! competes with other dog walking services in Washington, including web-based Rover.com, whose walkers are concentrated mostly in the District.
