'Dog Sharing' Apps Connect Pet Lovers And Owners On Social Media

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It can be tough to keep a dog in New York City. Pet-friendly apartments are tough to find and can often be more expensive. Hectic schedules and day-to-day life can also make taking care of a pet difficult.

But now, pet owners and dog lovers can find a perfect balance, with "dog sharing," a new way for dog owners to find people to care for their pets through social media matchmaking.

Bark n' Borrow is a mobile app and online service that connects dog owners to dog lovers. Users create a personalized account and must fill out an extensive questionnaire as part of the service's verification process, CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported.

Once a user is verified, they are allowed to reach out and connect with Bark n' Borrow's network of dog owners, dog walkers and other dog lovers for a yearly fee.

The app has caught on here in New York City and in the surrounding areas. Around 8,800 of Bark n' Borrow's 60,000 current users come from the city, with hundreds more in New Jersey and on Long Island.

Dog owner Melody Kim joined Bark n' Borrow to find someone who would help take care of her beloved Tobey while she was swamped with her hectic work schedule. After making a profile for her pup, Kim connected with Alexandra Wolfe.

"Me and my fiance, we want a dog, but I think at this time we can't really commit to one," Wolfe said.

Wolfe, who works at CBS, said she reached out to Kim after seeing Tobey's profile.

Now nearly eight months later, this Bark n' Borrow partnership is still going strong -- Tobey even has his own bed at Wolfe's place.

"It's really sweet, she adores him," Kim said.

"It definitely makes me want a dog more," Wolfe said.

Bark n' Borrow isn't the only pet-sharing service -- Rover.com and Borrow My Doggy are  is other digital services that will connect you with trusted dog sitters.