r/Renton • u/pugbuddy123 • 3d ago

Building a Higher Quality, Safer Pet Care App

I’m a local pet sitter and pet parent, and after some up-and-down experiences on the big-name pet sitting apps — both as someone offering care and someone booking it — I started thinking… what if there was something built for people who really care?

Not just about convenience or coverage, but about quality, trust, and the kind of care you’d want for your own pets.

So I’ve been building something new — it’s called SafePawz. It’s a premium pet care platform designed for pet lovers who value safety, professionalism, and a more thoughtful approach.

The focus isn’t on being the biggest — it’s on being the most trusted.

A few things we’re doing differently:

  • Sitters are experienced professionals who apply to be on the platform — no shortcuts
  • Pet parents are encouraged to verify themselves too — safety should be a two-way street
  • We’re using smart tech to improve transparency and peace of mind
  • Cats get just as much love and attention as dogs

I’m still in the early stages, building this as a solo founder, and would truly love feedback from other pet lovers. What would make you feel 100% confident using a sitter platform? What do you wish existed?

If this sounds like something you'd want to be part of — as a sitter or a pet parent — you can join the waitlist at https://www.safepawz.co Early users will help shape where this goes and get a few perks along the way.

Thanks for reading!

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u/BoringBob84 3d ago

For me, trust is about getting to know the caretaker. Here are some things that I think you could do to facilitate that:

  • Have a transparent screening process, including credit and criminal background checks. I don't want to trust my house and my pets to someone who is desperate for quick cash and has broken the law in the past to get it. On the other hand, I don't expect caretakers to be wealthy or to have never broken the law.

  • Allow customers to rate caretakers and caretakers to rate customers. If customers are good to caretakers, then the best caretakers will want to take jobs from those customers.

  • Allow customers to choose a particular caretaker (based on availability, of course) and vice versa.

  • Have profiles of each caretaker available to registered customers. Include video interviews, so we can see their mannerisms, behavior, and communication styles.

  • Be very specific about what customers can expect from caretakers and what caretakers will expect from customers. For example, some caretakers will bring their own food or clean your house. We like to meet in advance and show the caretaker around - how to use the TV, where the dog food is, etc.

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u/pugbuddy123 1d ago

I completely agree with all your points- trust starts with getting to know the caretaker. We're building toward a transparent screening process with thorough checks, not to exclude people unfairly, but to ensure safety and care. Two-way reviews, sitter choice, and detailed profiles (including video intros) are all part of our roadmap, along with clear expectations on both sides. Meet and greets are definitely a top priority and we want to do as much as possible to encourage them. Thanks for the feedback, your input is super helpful!