One of the great tragedies in my life right now is that I don't own a dog — to be fair, I can barely keep my plants alive — but after three years of living with pet-owning roommates, I miss being the fun aunt who shows up for cuddles and brings treats and avoids any sort of serious responsibility. So when I heard about Bark'N'Borrow, a new dog-borrowing app, it was one of the better days in recent memory. I mean, it’s an app that lets you borrow dogs. In other words, it’s the best app in the world.
The app, which is free to download, has a two-fold purpose: to connect dog-owners to professional dog-sitters, and to provide an outlet for eager dog-loving "borrowers" like me to pet some pooches.
Before getting started, everyone is required to make a profile outlining their needs and reasons for joining the site. Obviously, my needs are "TO HOLD SOME DOGS," but most people are a bit more detailed. Why don't you own a dog, if you're a borrower? What is your employment history, if you're a professional sitter? What is your dog's name, are they nice, and how many treats am I allowed to give them, if you're an owner? Did I mention this is FREE?!
More specifically, the app asks about your living situation (type of home, type of yard, whether you have any other pets), if you'd be willing to facilitate longer or overnight stays with the dog, what size and age you're willing to hang out with, if there are any breeds that you don't feel comfortable with, and what your training level expertise is. (Does "fun aunt" count?)
Anyway, once you fill out your profile, the world opens up, and suddenly it's:
But honestly, spending some quality time with a pup or two is more than just a cuteness overload. Multiple studies have shown that even 10 to 15 minutes spent playing with a dog raises your dopamine and serotonin levels, which are neurotransmitters that contribute to feelings of tranquility and happiness — so there's absolutely no reason to not try this app. I had to lie down for a moment when I realized how many dogs I was going to befriend. Happy Monday, dudes.
Images: Hoda Bogdan/Fotolia; Giphy (2)
