Couple start website to pair pet owners with caregiving options

Henderson residents Cheryl Moss and Russ Petersen never imagined themselves as dog owners, but after adopting their first fur child Ruby, they couldn’t picture life any differently.

Now active in the dog community, the couple created Let’s Join Paws, a free website service that matches busy dog owners with part-time caregivers in the community. They are in the process of gaining nonprofit status.

“While dog-sitting services are typically transaction based, our website focuses on creating a lasting relationship between the individuals and the dog,” Petersen said. “The dog is the main focus, but the caregiver and primary owner also benefit from the relationship. It’s a win-win-win situation.”

Like a doggie match.com service, individuals create profiles for their dogs or as caregivers and browse for potential matches in terms of personality, proximity and scheduling.

Users are encouraged to exchange messages and arrange public meet-and-greets to form a bond between the dog and potential caregiver.

Moss suggests that owners conduct home inspections of caregivers to make sure the space is conducive for a dog. Caregivers should verify that the dog is spayed or neutered and is current on shots.

“So much of it is based on chemistry,” she said. “You should do the normal due diligence that you would if you were selecting a babysitter for your child.”

From retired seniors seeking companionship to a family teaching its children about pet ownership, the website is designed to cater to all individuals.

“Some people say they never could foster a dog because they wouldn’t be able to give it up,” Moss said. “That might be true, but think of yourself as an aunt or uncle. This is not a sad story. This dog has a home, and you’re becoming part of that family.

“For seniors, it’s like having grandkids. Someone comes and picks them up at the end of the day.”

The idea of starting Let’s Join Paws came to Moss three years ago while watching an episode of the television show “Dog Whisperer,” in which a family dropped its dog off at a neighbor’s house on its way to work and school.

“While the financial responsibility was the family’s, the neighbors shared the dog as if it was their own,” Moss said. “It was beneficial for the neighbors and the dog, and it certainly helped out the family, so when I saw that, I thought, ‘Why don’t more people do this?’ ”

After adopting three dogs, Moss and Petersen began volunteering with The Animal Foundation and fostering dogs through A Home 4 Spot, a nonprofit animal rescue.

“As we became active in the dog community, we realized there’s an epidemic of unwanted dogs. It’s tragic,” Moss said. “People might not know they have options. They think, ‘My dog has destroyed my yard and chewed my walls. I love them, but I can’t deal with it.’ But maybe if they had a neighbor that could lend a helping hand or paw, the owner might not feel a rescue or shelter is the only solution.”

The Animal Foundation took in about 18,500 dogs in 2014 with pitbulls and Chihuahuas making up approximately 50 percent of the population, according to spokeswoman Meghan Scheibe.

“Animals can come in as a stray or lost animal picked up by animal control or people who find them roaming the streets,” said Scheibe, “or their owners surrender them to us because they no longer want to or are able to care for their animal.”

Scheibe said some owners surrender their pets for financial or behavioral reasons while others leave them at the shelter because they’re moving or feel they can no longer appropriately care for their pets.

“People are busy, especially in this town,” Scheibe said. “They work 12-hour shifts and then they feel really guilty leaving their pets home alone without a caregiver. This website provides another option for them to get their pets the care and attention they want or need.”

While the recession caused an increase in abandoned animals at the foundation, the number has decreased from 50,000 animals a year to about 35,000, Scheibe said.

“We hope this is the missing piece that helps people recognize what’s happening to animals out here. We’re still having issues, although the economy is recovering,” Petersen said. “The bottom line is that we hope to save some dogs from ending up in shelters or rescues. ”

For more information, visit letsjoinpaws.com or animalfoundation.com.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.