two happy dogs running

Pawsitive Stay

A loving community of pet parents to look after your fur babies when you're away!

Our Story

👋 This lovely pupper is Cuddles.

When I adopted Cuddles, a pitbull, I quickly realized that it was almost impossible to find a dog boarding business that would accept her. Many places had breed restrictions or simply refused to take pitbulls, leaving me with few options when I needed to go on a trip. It was a constant struggle to find someone I trusted to take care of Cuddles while I was away.

I started Pawsitive Stay as a Facebook group with 3 members - myself and two other pet owners who were also struggling to find places for their pets to stay. Our goal was to foster each other's pets when someone had to go away. As word spread, more and more people joined our group. Before we knew it, we had a close-knit community of 150 pet parents who were all willing to open up their homes to each other's pets.

Pawsitive Stay has now graduated from a Facebook group to a not for profit business, with the same mission of connecting loving pet parents with couches and kennels for their furry friends while they are away. And best of all, we will always be a FREE SERVICE, so that everyone can benefit from the loving care and support of our community. If you're tired of the stress and worry of finding a safe and welcoming place for your pet to stay, join the Pawsitive Stay family today and give your pet the love and care they deserve while you're away.

image of Pitbull dog named Cuddles

Pawsitive Stay FAQ

How does Pawsitive Stay work?

Pawsitive Stay is a platform that connects like-minded individuals who are willing to open their homes to each other's pets and provide a safe and welcoming environment for them.
Unlike traditional pet boarding services, Pawsitive Stay is free.
Once you become a member, you can offer a couch, spare room, or kennel to other pets in need. When you need to go away, you can search for available accommodations within the Pawsitive Stay community and choose the one that best fits your needs.
All members of the Pawsitive Stay community are pet owners themselves, so they understand the importance of caring for someone else's pet as if it were their own.

How do I join Pawsitive Stay?

At this time, Pawsitive Stay is an invite-only platform. To join Pawsitive Stay, you will need to be invited by an existing member of the community. If you have been invited to join Pawsitive Stay, you can sign up by completing the 'Join The Pack' form and providing the required information.
Once you submit the information, we will verify your reference. If your application is approved, you will receive login information and be added to the Pawsitive Stay community.
If you do not have a reference, you can still submit your information by entering "NA" in the reference field. Please include your zip code and we will notify you as we expand to your city.

Why is Pawsitive Stay invite only?

Pawsitive Stay is a community of pet owners who are passionate about providing a safe and welcoming environment for each other's pets. To ensure that all members of the community are trustworthy and dedicated to caring for other pets as if they were their own, we have implemented an invite-only policy.
By requiring an invite to join the community, we are able to verify the identity and credentials of each member and ensure that they meet the standards of the Pawsitive Stay community. This helps to create a safe and reliable environment for all pets in our care.

Is Pawsitive Stay available in my city?

Pawsitive Stay is currently available in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario, and we have a handful of members in the Detroit area in Michigan. We are constantly expanding and adding new members in different cities, so it's possible that we may be coming to your area soon.
To find out when Pawsitive Stay is available in your city, please include your zip code when you submit your information. We will notify you as soon as we are able to expand to your city.

How do I pay someone for their service?

Pawsitive Stay uses a unique currency called "Pawpsicles" (or "Pawps" for short) to facilitate payments between members for pet-sitting services.
For every hour of service that you provide to another member, you will be awarded 1 Pawp. When you join the Pawsitive Stay community, you will be awarded 8 Pawps as a starting balance.
Your account can accrue a negative balance up to 48 Pawps in case of emergencies. However, if your account remains in negative balance for 3 months, you will receive a warning. If the account is still in negative balance after one month, it will be terminated.
This system is designed to encourage a balance of consumers and producers within the Pawsitive Stay community and ensure that everyone is contributing to the community in some way. While the platform is free to join and use, the barter market helps to create a sense of mutual support and accountability among members.

Is Pawsitive Stay only for dogs?

No, Pawsitive Stay is open to all pets! If you have a cat, bird, or any other type of pet that needs a place to stay, we welcome them into the Pawsitive Stay family.

Is Pawsitive Stay a professional pet boarding business?

No, Pawsitive Stay is not a professional pet boarding business. It is a community of pet owners who are offering their couches and kennels to each other's pets.