Toronto man develops app that acts as 'Tinder' for dogs
A Toronto man says that an app he created to connect people's furry friends with other playmates has been so successful, he is looking at expanding.
The free app, called "Pawmates," is "very similar to Tinder" creator Colin Jarvis-Gaum told CTV News Toronto. Users can swipe right or swipe left and find dogs in their area who are looking for a friend.
"So if you swipe right on a person, and they've swiped right on you, then it starts a chat," Jarvis-Gaum said.
Users are then free to schedule a meet up.
Jarvis-Guam said he started the app when he saw a need in his own life.
"It actually started with my own dog, he was getting a little bit older," he said.
Jarvis-Gaum's golden retriever named Pal didn't have the same energy as before and couldn't keep up with the young dogs at the park.
"I though to myself it would be great if we could find him some other playmates that were sort of more his speed," he says.
The 27-year-old didn't know the first thing about creating an app. He learned to code by watching YouTube and after some trial and error, Pawmates was born. As oc Oct. 27, they've grown to about 10,000 users, along with a strong presence on social media.
At a Toronto park, many dog owners, like Dayan Servantez, said it's a great idea.
"(Dogs) can have their own socialization, you can have your own exercise, and the dogs exercise too," she said.
Dog walker Anna Koran says she will tell all her clients about this app.
"I think it such a fantastic way, number one for the dogs to get together but also for people to exchange ideas," she said.
As the effectiveness of the Pawmates app has been taking off, the team is now thinking of expanding into other pet related services.
Beyond finding other dogs, users can currently find doggy daycare, walkers, groomers, vets and stores, but Jarvis-Gaum has two new ideas,
"One is lost pet alerts," he said. He got the idea after seeing some Facebook groups spring into action after one of their members lost a pet.
"Another one would be adoptions," he said. The hope is to streamline the process for pets to find there forever home.
While the dogs have been matching, there have been users who have matches too.
"Some people have actually used it to meet significant others," Jarvis-Gaum said. He recently learned through a review on the App Store that two users met using Pawmates and now they are a couple.
So, like many dog owners at the park, you never know where your furry friends may lead you.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.