There’s something about these cold winter nights that makes people want to snuggle up with a pup. There’s a scientific reason for that. Dogs make us better people.
Really. According to a Harvard Medical School report last September called “Get Healthy, Get a Dog”, people who have dogs in their lives are healthier overall. The study found that individuals who own dogs are more physically active. They have also been seen to have better cardiovascular health, having lower blood pressure and cholesterol. And, maybe most importantly, dogs cause people to be less stressed, lowering their cortisol levels while increasing their oxytocin levels.
But not everyone can own a dog. For example, if you’re stuck in student housing, your pet options are limited if not nonexistent. So what’s a college kid to do besides sneak a puppy into the dorm room and pay off the RA? Look to technology, of course. There are not one, but four trustworthy apps specifically designed to bring you dogs only when you want them. So here are your best bets for cramming in puppy playtime between class and study time - all while avoiding using your beer money on vet bills. (Disclaimer: These are for dogs only. I couldn’t find any apps for cat-borrowing. Coincidence? Definitely not.)
Bark’N’Borrow
What if you could find your perfect puppy match to borrow? Bark’N’Borrow does that for you. The app brings together a community of dog owners and dog lovers who are geographically near one another. There is a general vetting process to make sure you’re not a threat to or won’t run off with anyone’s pets. But if you don’t have professional dog care experience, that’s OK. You can still borrow a pooch. You’re only going to ”get paid in puppy kisses and tail wags” instead of money.
Walkzee
Give back while you’re getting your dog time in. With Walkzee, you can borrow a local shelter dog and take them for walks or to play. So at the same time you’re unwinding with your furry friend, the experience is also benefiting the dogs by exposing them to positive interactions with humans. The startup hopes that you’ll come to love shelter dogs so much that you’ll end up adopting one when the time is right. How heartwarming is that?
UberPuppies
Everyone went wild when the premise for UberPuppies was announced. The same company that’s made transportation easy has started to bring little pups to people in various U.S. cities and areas around the world. For $15-$30 you can spend about 15 minutes with a puppy delivered by Uber and the money goes to charity. The only downside? It’s a limited-time-only deal so take advantage of it when it’s in your city.
DogVacay
Unlike the other apps, DogVacay combines two sources of happiness at once: dogs and money. Even if you’re an amateur dog sitter, you’d be paid for spending time cuddling, snuggling, petting and frolicking with puppies. Sign me up. If you’re down for some extra fun and have a pet-friendly apartment, you can even host dogs overnight for a puppy sleepover.
Image via Dirk Vorderstraße, CC BY 2.0.
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