A new excuse to take your dog everywhere.
Do you ever leave the house to run errands on the weekend and feel guilty for leaving your pups locked up at home?
We recently discovered there’s an app for that – and it works similarly to the way Uber works for humans. When we stumbled upon New York-based startup, DogSpot – who creates climate-controlled, lockable “sidewalk sanctuaries” for dogs – we fell in puppy love.
We also learned these dog pods are already in S.C. – at Anderson Mall (in Anderson, ~2 hours from Cola) – and a July announcement from the company said they plan to launch in Columbia + Charleston within the year.
So we asked y’all for feedback – hoping to persuade where they might end up + see if you would actually use them.
Photo by @dogspot
But first, we’ll address some common questions + concerns:
How does it work, exactly?
To use DogSpot, you’ll need to download their app. It shows you where to find a DogSpot (and lets you reserve it up to 15 min. in advance), and when you arrive, just put your dog inside + the pod will automatically lock when the door is closed. You can use the app to check in with the live Puppy Cam + unlock the door when you’re picking up your pup.
Will my dog be comfortable?
The pods are made of double-walled, powder-coated aluminum outside + veterinary-grade plastic inside (to prevent germs), have forced-air ventilation to keep the air inside fresh, and are climate-controlled with air conditioning and heating. There’s an 8-hour backup battery in case the power dies.
Does it cost money?
30 cents a minute. The average stay is 15-20 minutes, which would be $4.50-6.
Do I have to be a member to use DogSpot?
Yes, but that just means signing up for a free account on their app or website. They’ll also send you a physical member card, which comes in handy if you need someone else to pick up your dog, your phone dies, or you don’t have a smartphone.
Won’t they just be full of diseases + germs?
Between each visit, the pods are sanitized with a motion-sensor UV light, which cleans the pod of bacteria, viruses (including parvovirus), molds, and pathogens. If a dog has an accident, each DogSpot is cleaned by hand daily and as needed if there are any issues reported. To be a DogSpot member, your dog needs to be older than 6 months and be current on its vaccinations.
How can we get them in Columbia?
Fill out the request form here – and if you include your mailing address, they’ll send you some pup swag.
What if I want to check on my dog?
You can see exactly how your dog is doing any time (and what the temperature in the pod is) with the app’s live camera. 🐶 👀 DogSpot HQ can also see the feed to notify you if something’s going on.
What happens if my phone dies or the pod malfunctions?
The pod has an 8-hour backup battery to keep it running if power is lost. If the temperature gets outside the 32°-80° F range, you’ll be notified through the app immediately and you can go get your pup. The pod will go offline + remain out of use until the temperature is back in the safe range. If your phone dies while your dog is in the DogSpot, you can use your member card to unlock it. If you don’t have your member card, you can call DogSpot and they’ll verify your identity and remotely unlock it.
How long can I leave my dog?
The maximum on most DogSpots is 90 minutes, and the norm is around 15 -20 min. They aren’t intended to be a replacement for doggy daycare, which is why they charge by the minute (30 cents/min).
Will my dog fit in the pod?
They’re designed to the specs of a German Shepherd crate – 30” W x 33.5” D x 46.5” H. According to DogSpot, they can accommodate dogs up to 110 lbs. Two dogs ~30 lbs. each or less can fit inside the pod if they’re used to being together.
Is it legal to have these pods on the streets?
Regulations depend on each city, and the startup works with the individual location to make sure they’re complying with local guidelines, from getting a permit or license or registering with the city. DogSpots on private property are at the discretion of the local partner.
Still have questions left unanswered?
Would readers use a DogSpot in Columbia?
On Instagram, 71% said yes + 29% said no.
If yes, where would you like to see one?
“@karlwidda_k and @mako_widdagrin_notafin would like to see those along Main Street”
“Publix”
“I love this idea. Yes I would use! I live near downtown but most stores don’t allow dogs so that’s not one of my dog walking areas.”
“@troopy_doo would LOVE one in the Vista!”
More reader votes + comments:
“Millee and Bowden said yes 🐶🐶”
“Yes! This is sooooo adorable.”
“I foresee people leaving their dogs behind...on accident, of course”
“Great! But hoping they have a way to ensure the climate control NEVER fails or I fear they will become death traps.”
“Do they think all dogs are going to sit calmly in there? 😂”
“Would use”
“Could be useful if you’re out with your dog but want to go to the cat cafe 🤣”
“I would worry about fleas or parvo. Would they be cleaned between usings, especially if a pup had a potty accident?”
“I see people abandoning pets in these... Plus...My other concern would be how Clean are these things after us after use ? ICK!”
“I love this!”
“GAME CHANGER”
“This is interesting, but I think my dog would probably bark a lot in there.”
“Wow. I will have to look for that. Would you use that. Would dog be locked in? Would stealing be a problem?. Very forward thinking”
“Seems like this would open the company to liability in so many ways (HVAC breaks and dog overheats, locks malfunction and dog gets out, etc). It’ll be interesting to see if they make a go of it.”
I’ll admit, I was slightly skeptical when I first heard about DogSpot. I’m a helicopter dog-mom and the thought of locking my 4-legged kids in a little box outside, in a public place, terrified me. But, it seems that DogSpot has it all figured out – and they’ve thought of every possible concern + how to prevent or fix it.
I would definitely use them for Karl + Mako (especially since Karl is currently going through an extreme FOMO stage of his life). And I think it would be awesome to have them outside of Lowes Foods + Trader Joe’s, at Indah in Cottontown + a couple spread out along Devine St.
Have an idea for where one of these pods should go? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook or in the comments below.
–Sam
