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Photos: Cynthia E. (left) loves pets! She participates in a new dog sitting program. Right: Aaron and Karine Hirschhorn, partners in Dog Vacay, created the business to fulfill a personal need of finding a loving home for their dogs when they travel.

Some people will do just about anything for their dogs. And if that describes you, listen up! Dog Vacay (dogvacay.com)  is a dog boarding service that helps people find a local home for pets while they are away. Pet owners who take their dogs along on trips can also use the service to find sitters or host homes in cities they  visit… it is a great alternative if your hotel doesn’t accept pets, or if you don’t want to leave your dog in the hotel room all day.

In the functionality of websites offering meet-ups, vacation rentals or matching interests, Dog Vacay is an online community of pet lovers that’s free to use, matching dog owners in need of pet-care services with amazing qualified animal caregivers. While pricing is usually much less than traditional kennels, the most important aspect of the service is knowing your pet is getting ample doses of TLC. From big backyards ideal for a husky, to a one-bedroom apartment where a Chihuahua will be happy, animal lovers open their homes, caring for your pets while you’re on vacation or business travel. Gone is the stress!

How it works:

• Pre-qualified hosts are available, daily photo updates are posted and 24/7 support, vet care, and necessary services  assure your pet will be well cared for when you find and select the candidate matching your criteria.
• Log onto dogvacay.com, and look around. Right away you get a warm, fuzzy feeling as you look for pet caregivers near home or at your destination. Prices are generally much cheaper than alternatives, an added benefit!
• Dog Vacay Concierge can support last minute requests and recommend great home dog boarding hosts, as well as dog walkers, trainers, dog daycare, and even dog massages!

Founded by Aaron and Karine Hirschhorn who gave up their respective Wall Street and Hollywood jobs to start this company with Mike Jones (former CEO of MySpace,) the new project was more than just a great concept to help others and their pets– it was born out of a personal need for the doting owners of several delightful, furry “kids”. While special fundraising campaigns on DogVacay.com website support animal causes, the main focus is in providing stress-free options for pet owners who travel.