Trusted Pet Care —
Shared by the Community.

Connect with nearby pet owners, exchange pet-sitting duties, and give your furry friends the care they deserve — all within a safe, supportive network.

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Paws Nearby: Community Pet Care Exchange

Paws Nearby connects local pet owners to share pet-sitting responsibilities based on mutual trust and love for animals. Instead of expensive services, build a neighborhood support network for your pets.

Affordable & Predictable

  • Flat annual fee – no hidden charges or per-sit costs
  • Say goodbye to expensive sitters and last-minute fees

Flexible & Convenient

  • Book help when you need it – from a walk to a holiday sit
  • In return, offer to help when it fits your schedule

Community-Powered Pet Care

  • Built on mutual trust and shared responsibility
  • Connect with local, like-minded pet owners

Pet-First Philosophy

  • Every pet gets personalized care by a sitter they have had a chance to meet prior to the sit
  • No crowded kennels, stressful environments, or unfamiliar humans

How it Works

Join the Community

Create your profile and unlock unlimited pet-sitting exchanges with a $79+tax CAD annual membership.

Build Your Network

Connect with local pet owners, meet to ensure a good fit, and arrange your first pet-sitting exchange.

Exchange Care

Exchange pet-sitting with your trusted buddy and leave reviews to grow the community.

Sign Up Today and Enjoy Unlimited Pet-Sitting Exchanges with No Per-Sit Costs

Yearly Subscription

$79.00 / year
Yearly Subscription features:
  • This plan includes 1 listing
  • Listings are visible for 364 days
  • Unlimited message exchanges
  • Unlimited pet-sitting exchanges
  • Unlimited pets per household
Sign Up

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paws Nearby?

Paws Nearby connects local pet owners who help one another with pet-sitting duties.
Instead of paying expensive sitter fees, neighbours take turns caring for each other’s pets,
making pet care affordable, reliable, and rooted in trust and community.

Unlike other apps that charge per booking, Paws Nearby works on a simple annual membership model.
Pay just $79 + tax per year and enjoy unlimited pet-sitting exchanges.
Absolutely no hourly fees, no commissions, and no strangers sitting for money.
Just a trusted community of local pet owners helping one another.

It’s simple!
Create your profile, complete a quick ID verification, and pay your annual membership fee.
Once you’re in, you can find sitter matches by browsing nearby pet owners on the map, applying filters to find someone who matches your needs — or both!
From there, connect with as many verified members as you like and enjoy unlimited pet-sits

Membership is just $79 + tax per year, giving you full access to our community of verified pet owners.
That’s less than the cost of a single weekend with a traditional sitter — and you can enjoy unlimited pet-sitting exchanges all year long!

There is no catch. 

At Paws Nearby, we believe that just because we could charge more, doesn’t mean we should.

Life is expensive — reliable pet care shouldn’t be.

Your membership covers:

  • Unlimited pet-sitting exchanges with verified members

  • ID verification for safety

  • Secure messaging and scheduling

  • The ability to meet fellow pet owners before agreeing to a sit

  • Multiple pets per household at no extra charge

Any friendly, reliable pet owner within 30 km of the CN Tower can join.

We’re launching in Toronto first, so for now membership is limited to Toronto residents with a valid Canadian ID.
If you’re unsure, simply enter your postal code on the registration page — the system will let you know if you’re not eligible yet.

You can also view the map for a quick overview.

Screenshot of Google Maps displaying a 30-kilometre radius around the CN Tower. The circular outline extends across Toronto and covers parts of Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Markham. A small part of Pickering is also within the radius. Lake Ontario can be seen to the south. The map is cut off just past Burlington to the west, Aurora to the north, and Oshawa to the east.

All kinds of pets are welcome on Paws Nearby, as long as they’re non-aggressive and well cared for by their owner.
Our community includes dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, reptiles, fish, etc.

No — as long as you’re experienced and comfortable with your pet-sit buddy’s pet!
For example, a dog owner can care for another dog, or even a cat, if they’ve had experience with cats before.
The key is that you feel confident and capable of providing safe, loving care.

Every member completes an identity verification before joining, so you can feel confident knowing you’re connecting with real, verified neighbours.

We also encourage members to meet in person before arranging a sit — it’s a wonderful way to get to know each other, build trust, and make sure it’s a good fit for everyone (pets included!).

And most importantly, always trust your gut. Only move forward with a pet-sit exchange if you feel comfortable with that person and their pet.

No — your exact address will never be published.

Your profile will simply appear within the general area of your postal code, so nearby members can see roughly where you’re located without revealing your specific address.

You can verify your identity using Canadian government-issued IDs, such as:

  • Passport

  • ID card

  • Driver’s licence

  • Permanent resident card

Starting December 1, Health Cards will also be accepted.

Absolutely!
Your membership includes unlimited pet-sit exchanges with other verified members in your area.
The more connections you make, the easier it is to find the perfect match whenever you need a helping hand.

That’s entirely up to you and your buddy to decide together!

Every pet is different — some feel most at ease staying in their own familiar space, while others enjoy a little change of scenery and extra cuddles at their buddy’s home. 

Absolutely!
If you change your mind, you can request a full refund within 2 weeks of joining, as long as you haven’t exchanged any messages with other members yet.

To cancel your membership, simply send us an email at hello@pawsnearby.com and we’ll be happy to help.

The more, the merrier!
Your annual membership covers all pets in your household — whether you have one or five, the fee remains $79 + tax.

You can either find a sitter who’s happy to look after all your pets at once, or arrange different sitters for different pets.
Just remember that if you have several sitters, you’ll be caring for each of their pets as part of the exchange — it’s all about a fair exchange.

Of course! Just make sure to be open and honest about your pet’s special needs on your profile, and discuss them with your potential sit-exchange buddy.

Some members are comfortable administering medication or following a specific care routine, while others may prefer lower-maintenance pets.

Being transparent helps ensure your pet gets the right care and makes it easier to find the perfect match within the Paws Nearby community.

We want our members to get their money’s worth and to feel great about joining Paws Nearby.

If there’s no potential pet-sit buddy within 1 km of your home for at least 6 months of your membership period, we’ll refund your membership — no questions asked.

Just send us an email at hello@pawsnearby.com, and we’ll take care of it. 

We’d Love to Hear from you!