Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Monday 31 July 2017

NYC to at-home pet boarders: Legally, you’re in the doghouse

New York City health of- The years-old prohibition licensing standards.
ficials, on the other hand, isn’t actively policed; en- And in a city of apartment-
have proposed to tweak forcement is driven by com- dwellers, health depart-
regulations to make the plaints. Statistics weren’t ment lawyer Thomas Mer-
city’s in-home pet board- available from the Health rill says residents “have a
ing ban all the more clear. Department this week. right not to have someone
The policy, discussed at a State Sen. Tony Avella, a next door with a bunch of
health department hear- Democrat who contacted animals coming in.” As the
ing this week, doesn’t ap- the city health department Daily News first reported, he
ply to pet-sitting an animal last year about pet-sitting told DogVacay in October
in its own pad or watching apps, says people who ad- that its at-home boarders
someone’s pet for free as a vertise and charge for pet were breaking the law and
favor. care should have to meet could be fined.q

Tanoopa Jaikaran walks with Mimosa, a 9-year old pit bull mix in
the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan. Jaikaran left a market-
ing job last year to start a dog-walking and pet-sitting business.
In New York and elsewhere, pet-boarding rules have gotten new
attention with the rise of apps. The popular Rover and a former
rival, DogVacay, were among the top five highest-funded “pet
tech” start-ups in the last five years, according to CB Insights,
which tracks venture capital.
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
By JENNIFER PELTZ pet-boarding rules have
Associated Press gotten new attention with
NEW YORK (AP) — Fur is fly- the rise of apps. The popu-
ing over pet-sitting in New lar Rover and a former rival,
York City, where regulators DogVacay, were among
are sniffing around apps the top five highest-funded
that connect owners with “pet tech” startups in the
people who take animals last five years, according
into their homes for pay. to CB Insights, which tracks
Health regulators are trying venture capital.
to reinforce a longstanding Just last month, Demo-
rule against the practice, cratic Colorado Gov. John
a leading app is pushing Hickenlooper signed a law
back, and a city council- letting people board as
man is pondering the issue. many as three pets with-
And anxious pet sitters are out a license. The sponsors,
wondering what to tell cli- Republican Rep. Lois Land-
ents. graf and Democratic Rep.
“I don’t know what to do,” Dan Pabon, said constitu-
says Tanoopa Jaikaran, ents had been stunned to
who left a marketing job learn they needed licenses
last year to start a dog- to board pets even occa-
walking and pet-sitting sionally.
business. “It’s not realistic to think
She does most of her sit- that somebody who may
ting in clients’ own homes not make $400 a year pet-
but she’d agreed to take a sitting has to have a $400 li-
pet or two during upcom- cense, compared to some-
ing holidays to her three- body who runs a full-blown
family Bronx house, where dog day care and groom-
the animals can have their ing facility,” says Landgraf,
own apartment. a Colorado Republican.
“We want to do everything Similarly, California law-
the right way,” she said, makers last year limited the
but “it’s a really hard pill to state’s first pet-boarding
swallow right now.” regulations to facilities host-
In New York and elsewhere, ing four or more animals.