HIALEAH, Fla. – The network of an app that allows dog owners to rent a private space for their beloved pets to have off-leash play has been growing in South Florida.
SniffSpot, founded in 2018, allows property owners to make a little extra cash by renting their backyards. Isa Vega said she has been a host for over a year.
“I have my own business but I do this on the side and I also love pets,” Vega said. “I’m an animal lover so for me it’s not only about the money. I really enjoy seeing the dogs coming!”
According to the company that runs the app, Florida has the largest market in the country with more than 2,500 active listings and growing.
Vega, who lives in Hialeah, said her daughter convinced her to sign up and her heated saltwater pool, has been a big selling point.
“It pays for the cleaning pool. It pays for the landscaping,” Vega said. “We try to keep it very, you know, nice and clean, so yeah it helps.”
Vega said her side hustle “blew up” and she has a guest every day. She said they are mostly people who live in apartments and don’t have access to the space.
“We try to go the extra mile for them. We provide towels, we provide beverages, we provide fresh water,” Vega said. “The shower outside for them, so you know they just love it.”
At an average of about $12 per visit, some hosts are earning about $3,000 a month. The host sets the rate and keeps 75% of the cut. The company foots the bill for the primary liability insurance.
“This is just another way that you can be with your dog and just know that they are going to be safe,” said Mara Powell, a SniffSpot host in Plantation.
It’s a niche market, but with the cost of living soaring in South Florida, users and hosts are both benefitting.
“There’s nowhere that they can get out. They have freedom to run around, water to drink,” Powell said. “It’s great!”
For more information about SniffSpot, visit this page.
