Pet sharing: part-time ownership with minimal commitment

For the time being, most pet sharing services cater to dogs and their owners, although some do include cats as well. The simplest way to think of pet sharing is as an on-demand, affordable day care for your 4-legged companions. Pet sharing apps connect people who want to share the responsibility (and the perks) of owning a pet. The practice could involve casual afternoon play dates and walks in the park or overnight stays of longer duration, depending on the needs of the pet owners.

If you've always wanted to have a dog but can't afford it or travel too much, pet sharing might be a viable alternative. It offers part-time ownership with minimal commitment. It's a win-win solution for people who already own pets, since pet sharing apps provide easily accessible boarding options at a much lower cost than traditional kennels or dog-walking services. Pets benefit from these more personal, cage-free alternatives to care, too. The trend can also help animal lovers form connections within their local community.

The power of the human-animal bond should not be underestimated. Research points to proven health benefits of pet companionship that are both physical and psychologicalOpens a new window in your browser.. They include improved cardiovascular health, stress relief, greater opportunities for socialization and feeling connected to the community. Pets provide comfort, decrease loneliness and depression and improve the overall well-being of their owners.

Don't have the funds to keep up with vet fees? Unsure if your kids have what it takes to care for a dog, despite insisting they want one? No problem. Pet sharing allows you to sidestep those long-term financial commitments while still partaking in part-time joys. Simply sign up to take someone else's dog out for a walk when you're available and return Fido to his or her owner when you're done. Bonus: you could get paid for it, too.

Too many late nights stuck in the office? Stressed no one is home to take your pup out for exercise while you're on the road? Again, no problem. Pet sharing allows you to tap into a network of fellow animal lovers who are only too happy to step in on demand and offer help when you need it most.

Whether you're looking for someone to spend time with your pet while you work or travel or you're someone looking for a part-time furry friend, here are some pet sharing apps to consider:

Dog Vacay is a network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers, all of whom have been vetted with a background check and can be rated and reviewed right on their profiles. You also get to see up front how much they charge. All sitters set their own prices and availability and get paid within 2 days of completing the service. Each reservation comes with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week customer support, premium pet insurance and daily photo updates, so you know what your pooch has been up to while you're away. Book your reservation in more than 14,000 cities across North America.

The Toronto-based Houndr app calls itself a modern way for neighbours to connect. Walks start at $5 for half an hour and overnight stays are billed at a maximum of $25. As a sitter, you can also choose to donate your earnings to one of Houndr's partner animal rescue organizations.

Spot, Canada's only on-demand dog walking app, offers guaranteed walks for your pet within 90 minutes of your reservation or it's free. All walkers have been interviewed, background- and reference-checked and insured before being approved. Plus, you can meet as many walkers as you want until you find the perfect fit. Walks range in price from $15 to $25 (less if you purchase a package) and can be tracked in real time via GPS. Bonus: your first walk is free when you download the app.

Today, 94% of Canadians are online, and nearly 1 in 3 use more digital tools or services than they did a year ago. So, sharing economy goods and services are more accessible than ever before. Since pet sharing allows people to more comfortably navigate the challenges of modern living and makes the joys of pet ownership simpler to access, this trend is clearly here to stay. The best part? Pet sharing can be a win-win-win, with benefits for busy owners, part-time animal lovers and our 4-legged friends alike.