How it works The science Pricing Safety Our mission About FAQ Join waitlist →
Coming to a city near you

Dog care shouldn't be a luxury. We're fixing that.

Your dog needs to run. Someone in your city needs exactly that.

A community platform connecting dog owners with Pals — people who genuinely want to walk, run, play, or just hang out with a dog. Both sides benefit. Science proves it.

Join the waitlist See how it works →
90M+
dogs in the US who deserve better than being left alone all day
$2.3B
what private equity paid for Rover in 2024 — funded by pet parents
$400/mo
what 5 walks a week costs on Rover or Wag — PawPal is $19
$0
what it costs to be a Pal — community doesn't need a commission
Background checked
Pet insurance required
Social ID verified
Community-first
How it works
Two sides.
One community.

Pick your side. Both win. Swipe through to see exactly how PawPal works — for pet parents and Pals alike.

9:41
Good morning 🌤
Find Biscuit's Pal
Search Pals near you...
Available now nearby
M
Marcus R.
0.4 mi away · Mission District
FREE
Morning runs Big dogs ✓ Certified
J
Jamie L.
0.8 mi away · Noe Valley
$12/hr
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🐕
Biscuit
Golden Retriever · 3 yrs · SF, CA
About Biscuit
"I just got a new job — but it's 5 days a week in office. I really can't afford dog sitting right now, and the guilt from leaving Biscuit alone every day is unbearable. He loves to run and has so much energy. He just needs someone to be his person during the day."
⚡ High energy 🏃 Loves to run 🐕 Dog friendly Solo walks only
✓ Vaccines up to date
✓ Pet insurance verified
✓ Owner identity confirmed
M
Marcus R.
Pal · 24 yrs · Mission District, SF
About Marcus
"I have a dog back home in Texas — I had to leave her when I moved to SF for school. I really miss having a dog around. Someone to run with in the morning. Someone who's just happy to see you. I'm not here to make money. I just want that feeling again."
🏃 Morning runner 🐕 Big dogs ✓ Volunteer Weekday mornings
✓ Enhanced background check
✓ 2 social accounts verified
✓ Dog safety certified
✓ Annual re-screening active
🐕
M
✓
You've been matched!
Biscuit & Marcus are a great fit.
Proposed first session
TypeMorning run
LocationDolores Park, SF
Duration45 min
Live session
Biscuit is out! 🏃
🐕‍🦺
Photo check-in · 2 min ago
Marcus says:
"Biscuit is absolutely crushing it on the Dolores loop. He says hi 🐾"
23 min
Time elapsed
1.8 mi
Distance covered
💚
Biscuit's having a blast. You'll get a final photo and rating request when the session ends.
For pet parents
Your dog gets out.
You breathe easier.
Verified community members who actually want to run with your dog. Affordable, safe, and on your terms.
1
Build your dog's profile — breed, energy, personality, vaccines
2
Verify your pet insurance — required for every owner
3
Browse Pals, message directly, choose who feels right
4
Do a Meet & Greet first — you approve every match
5
Get photo check-ins, rate and review after every session
For Pals
Show up for a dog.
Feel better doing it.
Science shows that time with dogs — whether you're walking, running, playing, or just hanging out — reduces stress, lifts mood, and eases loneliness. Volunteer or get paid. Either way, you both win.
1
Pass your background check — mandatory, no exceptions
2
Connect 2 social accounts for real identity verification
3
Complete our dog safety certification
4
Choose your path — volunteer free or subscribe monthly
5
Get matched, Meet & Greet, then walk, run, play, or just hang out
Pricing
Pet parents pay less.
Pals pay nothing.
PawPal's revenue comes entirely from pet parents. Pals are always free — because the community is the product, not a subscription.
Pay per session
For occasional use, no commitment
Varies
set by Pal · no monthly fee
  • ✓
    Book verified Pals on demand
  • ✓
    Choose community volunteers or paid Pals
  • ✓
    Photo check-ins every session
  • ✓
    Meet & Greet before every first session
  • ✓
    Rate & review after each visit
Founding rate — price goes up at launch
Unlimited
For busy pet parents who need regular help
$19
per month · founding member price
  • ✓
    Unlimited sessions — walks, runs, play, hangouts
  • ✓
    Priority matching with top Pals
  • ✓
    Access to community volunteers at no extra cost
  • ✓
    Photo check-ins every session
  • ✓
    Multi-pet support
  • ✓
    $19 locked in forever — regular price will be $29/mo
Community volunteers
Matched with a verified Pal at no cost
$0
no cost · community-powered
  • ✓
    Matched with verified volunteer Pals
  • ✓
    Same background check & certification as paid Pals
  • ✓
    You approve every match
  • ✓
    Photo check-ins every session
  • ✓
    Rate & review after each visit

All members complete a full background check before their first session. Verification costs are covered by PawPal.

Safety & trust
We don't just check boxes.
We close the gaps.
Rover checks once. Wag checks once. Neither checks again. PawPal built something better.
Industry standard
Rover
Sold to private equity for $2.3B · takes 31% commission
✓One-time background check via First Advantage or Checkr
✓National sex offender registry search
✓Enhanced check optional (county court records)
✗No annual re-screening after hire
✗No social media identity verification
✗No pet insurance requirement for owners
✗Members enter your home unsupervised
✗No mandatory dog safety certification
Industry standard
Wag!
$83.9M revenue · takes up to 40% commission
✓One-time background check via Vetty (Pals pay $25–65)
✓10-question dog safety quiz
✓In-app GPS walk tracking
✗No annual re-screening — checked once, never again
✗No social media identity verification
✗No pet insurance requirement for owners
✗Members enter your home unsupervised
✗A Wag contractor charged with animal cruelty had passed their check
Our standard
PawPal
Community-first. Safety always.
✓Enhanced background check — mandatory, not optional
✓Annual re-screening for all active members
✓2 social media accounts connected for real identity
✓Pet insurance verification required for all owners
✓Mandatory dog safety & handling certification
✓Meet & Greet required before first session
✓Public walks only — no unsupervised home access
✓Community rating & review after every session

Rover & Wag verification data sourced from Rover.com, PetCareIns.com, and KTVU Fox 2 investigation.

Backed by research
Dogs + people.
The science is real.
Every stat below is linked to a published study. This is why PawPal exists.
10 min
Just 10 minutes with a dog produces a measurable drop in cortisol — your body's primary stress hormone. Proven in a randomized controlled trial.
Washington State University · AERA Open, 2019 ↗
Oxytocin
Eye contact with a dog triggers a mutual oxytocin surge in both human and dog — the same neurochemical bond found between mothers and newborns.
NIH · Frontiers in Psychology, 2019 ↗
GABA boost
Time with a dog activates calming GABA pathways and suppresses stress hormones in ways that the same activity alone simply does not. The dog is the difference.
Yamazaki University · Animals Journal, 2021 ↗
Better in person
People who interacted directly with a dog had significantly greater drops in anxiety than those who only watched dog videos. Being there is what works.
University of Warwick · NIH, 2019 ↗
26% lower
Risk of major depression drops 26% by replacing just 15 minutes of sitting with movement. Time with a dog makes that easy to do every single day.
Harvard T.H. Chan · JAMA Psychiatry, 2019 ↗
Loneliness buffer
Regular time with a dog buffered the impact of isolation on loneliness — even during COVID-19 — with measurable, lasting effects on mental health.
NIH · Animals Journal, 2021 ↗

Researchers call the combination of dogs, movement, and nature "bonded green exercise" — a triple-effect wellbeing boost that works for both human and dog. NIH, 2025 ↗

🐾
Our mission

Dogs bring people together.
That's always been the point.

Neighbors used to look after each other's dogs. Runners brought a pup along for the trail. Someone always knew whose dog needed company that afternoon. That spirit never left. It just got priced out — and PawPal is bringing it back.

$2.3B
What private equity paid for a major dog walking platform in 2024. That came from pet parents.
Source ↗
43%
Of American dog owners are worried about affording basic care for their pet.
Source ↗
$0
What it costs to be a Pal on PawPal. Community doesn't have to come with a commission.
Join the community See how it works →
Woman and dog sitting together looking at the coast
About PawPal
Built for every dog owner
doing it on their own.

PawPal exists because dog care got expensive, lonely, and complicated. It doesn't have to be.

And for every overwhelmed pet parent, there's someone in their city who'd show up in a heartbeat — living in a small space, missing a dog, wanting that connection without the commitment. PawPal connects both.

The cost of doing nothing
Rover or Wag — per walk
$21–29
5 walks/week on Rover
~$400/mo
PawPal unlimited
$19/mo
potential monthly savings vs Rover
$380+
Sourced from Rover.com and Time To Pet, 2024–2025
Building our waitlist
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when we launch.

PawPal is building a community of pet parents and dog lovers across the country. Sign up now for early access, founding member pricing, and updates as we launch city by city.

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Launching city by city — sign up to be first in yours.