Today we’d like to share with you the story of one of our lovely borrowers Sarah who has been borrowing an absowoofly gorgeous black lab, Rafa. Sarah often takes Rafa for walks by the river, and is really enjoying spending her spare time with a four legged furry friend. We’re thrilled that BorrowMyDoggy has filled the the dog-shaped hole in Sarah’s life.

High paws! Do tell us about your experience with BorrowMyDoggy...

It’s so nice to meet new people, make some new furry friends and get some extra exercise too. I have lived in Hammersmith for the past two years and it wasn’t until I borrowed a dog that I took time to walk along the river! BorrowMyDoggy has been the perfect solution for me – I have been able to spend time with a dog, which I had greatly missed, despite not having the time or space to have a dog of my own. The subscription fee is really reasonable and I’d say money very well spent!

Why did you sign up to BorrowMyDoggy?

I’ve always had dogs and, since moving to London, have really missed having one around. I can’t have a dog of my own at the moment as, amongst other reasons, I don’t have a garden so when a friend told me about BorrowMyDoggy, it seemed like the perfect solution. When I started to see new sign-ups in my area via BorrowMyDoggy emails, I decided to log back in, add additional information to my profile and start favouriting dogs in my area.

Tell us about your Welcome Woof?

Soon after signing up, I heard back from a couple different owners through the site. I messaged back and forth and met with a few owners before finding my perfect match in Rafa, the black Labrador. Rafa’s owner, Jan, and I emailed several times through BorrowMyDoggy and spoke on the phone before agreeing to meet in person for the first time.

For our first meeting, the ‘Welcome Woof’, we went for a walk and cup of tea with Rafa at Chiswick Park, and really got to know each other.

How are you getting on with your new furry pal?

The first time I looked after Rafa on my own, I picked him up from Jan’s house and took him out for a walk along the river whilst Jan stayed at home and got some painting done! I’ve now taken Rafa out several times and plan on spending more time with him in the future too.

What's the one thing you would tell other potential borrowers about BorrowMyDoggy?

I’d really recommend BorrowMyDoggy. I do think that it’s a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken too lightly – owners are trusting you to look after their dogs and you need to invest some time to get to know both the owner and their dog.

What has surprised you most about borrowing a dog?

How easy it was to sign up and connect with an owner so close to my flat! It has been lovely getting to know Rafa and Jan and I’m enjoying my regular Sunday afternoon walks along the river…

What one word do you associate with BorrowMyDoggy?

Brilliant!