Headlines

Dog Walkers Make a Comeback After Pandemic Slump

At one business, ‘the floodgates opened’ in March.

Published

5 years ago

June 7, 2021

PETS+ Staff

Many dog walkers saw their business take a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic as pet owners stayed home. But at least in some regions, the profession is seeing an uptick.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Hyde Bark Dog Walking saw business drop 90 percent during the pandemic.

“And then, all of the sudden, around the beginning of March, it was like all at once the floodgates opened, and now we’re about back to what we were pre-pandemic,” said Leanna Quartuccio, owner of the company, according to the Sun-Times.

The business went from 21 dog walkers to three and is now back to 18.

Another business, Chicago Dog Walkers, saw business drop 75 percent but is now making a comeback.

Other dog walking businesses in the Chicago area report that business is coming back, but slowly. Some newly vaccinated clients are looking not for dog-walking services but for someone to keep their dog while they head away on vacation.

P.L.A.Y. Media Spotlight

At P.L.A.Y. — Pet Lifestyle & You — toy design is definitely a team effort! Watch PETS+ interviewer Chloe DiVita and P.L.A.Y.’s Director of Sales Lisa Hisamune as they talk about the toy design process, the fine-tuning that makes each toy so special and why every P.L.A.Y. collection is made with independent retailers top of mind.