Doing a good deed and getting a great work-out at the same time? This app could accomplish both!
A San Francisco couple is developing an app that helps match up shelter dogs with canine lovers who are looking for a walking buddy.
Walkzee is a program that encourages people to borrow shelter dogs for walks or day trips like hiking or going to the beach.
Charlie and Cristina Saunders came up with this idea when they went on their Hawaiian honeymoon and came across the Kauai Humane Society which encouraged visitors to take dogs with them on day trips.
The Kauai Humane Society’s program called “Shelter Dogs on Field Trips,” was created to accommodate tourists who were missing their pets while on vacation. People get their dog fix by including them on their adventure, while benefiting the dog by giving it exercise and lots of attention.
The app would work by having shelters list their dogs on Walkzee, then walkers would search for dogs according to their location. Once the walker found the dog they want to walk, they would request a walk using the shelter’s preferred method.
During the walk, the dog would wear an “adopt me” vest to help expose the dog to potential new adopters. When done, the walkers can rate the dog and shelter and potentially adopt the dog.
The creators are hoping to launch the new app in June.
By Katie Vu, WTKR Intern
