HoundHosters.com: A New Alternative in Pet Care While You Travel

My husband and I refer to Christmas 2005 as the year of the Christmas Couch Disaster. Chris and I, along with our Great Dane named Poet, had moved to Florida for a one-year work assignment. After the last box was unpacked, I immediately picked up the phone to make arrangements for Poet to stay at a kennel while Chris and I visited my parents in Arkansas over Christmas. Though it was two months before the beginning of the holiday season, the kennels in town were all booked. Kennels in surrounding communities were full. There was no room at the proverbial inn.

So we turned to a pet sitter for our holiday pet care, and they were wonderful people. They came over several times before the holidays, and Poet adored them. We loved that part of their pet sitting service included daily emails and photos of how Poet was doing while we were away, and that they would stay and visit with her for 30 minutes 3 times a day.

But like parents leaving their kid at school for the first time, we were still apprehensive about things. We left that Christmas trying to convince ourselves that Poet would be just fine. Poet was a well-trained dog, and was in her comfortable, home environment where she knew her boundaries. We imagined she’d just sleep on the couch like normal, awaiting the three daily visits with the pet sitters. Little did we know this would not be the case.

When the Yuletide festivities wound down, we returned home to an absolutely shredded couch. As in, half the arm was missing. Our pet sitter had left an apologetic note, saying that Poet had done the damage in the short span of time between one of their 3 daily visits, and that they had started crating her when they were away from the house to keep her from destroying more stuff. We understood why they didn’t tell us about the couch in the daily emails; they didn’t want to put a damper on our holidays. The damage was already done. Merry Christmas to us.

Apparently the stress of still being in a somewhat new home, coupled with a week away from her people, was a bit more than Poet could handle. Her anxiety had gotten the better of her. I was upset about the couch, but I was also troubled knowing she had been in her crate so much while we were gone.

Poll any group of dog owners, and quite a few probably have similar stories. But there would be fewer cases of shredded couches, destroyed mini-binds, deconstructed floor moldings and clawed up doors if more people used a service like HoundHosters.com

Founded in Charleston just this year, HoundHosters.com owners Mira and Tyler Milliken were dreaming of a trip to Europe, but put that dream on hold because they were unsure of where to place their Chocolate Lab, Karma. “We didn't like the idea of boarding Karma in a kennel where she would be stressed by constant barking. And we didn’t want to hire a pet sitter knowing that Karma would still be left home alone for most of the day. We felt like there had to be a better way. We knew there were lots of people like us who needed a different option, and from exploring that idea, HoundHousters.com was born!”

The Millikens are now busy creating a network of certified, background-checked, CPR and First Aid-trained, dog-hosting families. Offering overnight, daily daycare and even pet taxi services, HoundHosters.com is comparable in price to a traditional pet sitter or kennel, but with one “rebarkable” difference: Now when you travel or you are busy at work, your dog stays with a loving family in a real home environment where he/she receives the attention of a true blue dog lover who is home most of the day. Your dog’s home routine is maintained too, and normal rules are enforced. I.E. No eating couches.

How it works

If you are interested in using the HoundHosters.com service, you first create a client account on the website. Think of it as a doggy profile where you answer a few basic questions about your dog, provide information on any special requests and needs, and submit a boarding request.

HoundHosters.com then matches you up with a suitable host family in the network based on convenience of location, host family availability, and your dog's characteristics. The organization then arranges a free, no-obligation Meet & Greet with your prospective host family. If you are comfortable with your host family, you finalize your reservation online and submit payment.

On the first day of your boarding reservation you will drop-off your dog at the scheduled time at the host family’s home. You also have the option to use the HoundHosters.com Dog Taxi service if needed. Your host family maintains your dog’s routine as described in your dog's profile while you are away, and then you pick up your dog when you return. Host families also send updates as requested to the traveling dog owner.

Interested in Hosting?

The HoundHosters.com network is growing, and the Millikens are currently seeking people who have an obvious understanding of dog care, a safe, fenced-in yard, a cozy home, and the ability to maintain a dog’s home-life routine. This includes following their feeding, walking, playing, and sleeping schedules. Those who work from home, stay-at-home (work-at-home) moms and retired persons looking to earn extra income are ideal candidates. Prior to becoming a host family one most complete a certification process that includes a background check, home inspection, as well as a Pet CPR & First Aid course (given to applicants free of charge). This thorough certification process gives traveling pet owners true peace of mind. And host families can rest easy too because HoundHosters.com’s liability insurance covers each and every host family. Interested persons can apply online at www.houndhosters.com.

With the holiday season soon upon us, I’m sure there will be a flurry of activity over on HoundHosters.com. Like any pet care service it’s best to book early. So don’t delay. While kennels and pet sitters are great options for some dogs and their owners, a personalized, family environment with lots of attention sounds like a nice holiday retreat for any pooch.