David Adams wanted to find more off-leash places in Fremont and Ballard for his pup to play, and that got him thinking. What if there was an app for dog parks? And what if people could offer their own backyards for a few hours and make a few bucks — sort of like an Airbnb for dogs?
That’s how SniffSpot was born, a new website that lets you find and offer up off-leash play areas.
“People in Ballard and Fremont are crazy about their dogs, even more so than other places in Seattle,” Adams told My Ballard, explaining that our area is attracting the most SniffSpot users so far. “Ballard has a unique combination of a lot of pet owners living in apartments and a lot of homeowners with yards nearby.”
But as more dog owners visit SniffSpot looking to find off-leash areas — in part fueled by a recent story on Q13 — Adams says he needs more neighbors to offer up their backyards for a few hours.
“We are blowing up with demand and don’t have enough listings!” Adams told the My Ballard Facebook group. “I am looking for more hosts to join in the Ballard area.”
Hosts can set their own rates, hours of availability and other ground rules. SniffSpot requires proof of vaccination for visiting dogs, and it offers damage protection for host properties, too.
A former Microsoft employee, Adams is now full-time on SniffSpot, funding it all himself.
“It’s my full time gig,” he told us. “Maybe not a smart career move, but it’s what I’m passionate about and a lot of other people are finding it useful.”
(Photos from @SniffSpots on Instagram)
Off leash at the grocery store!