Member Spotlight — Heather and Allie

We sat down with one of our members, Heather, and talked about being a dog parent in San Francisco, the story of how Allie (her dog) became a part of her family, and her experience with Louie’s Club so far.

Are you originally from the Bay Area?

No, actually I’m actually from Colorado but I’ve been living in San Francisco for 15 or so years now.

And is Allie your first dog?

We always had dogs when I was a kid. She’s just our first dog as grownups. My daughter had been begging for a dog for quite a while and I myself had always wanted one. So when we finally got a place that had a yard and got the kids out of diapers, we decided it was time. We rescued her about a year and 8 months ago.

What are some of your favorite activities to do with her?

Her favorite thing is when we go up in the mountains to hike and she can run free. It’s also really fun to take her to the beach. I don’t think she had seen the ocean when we first rescued her. So, she pretty much goes crazy with excitement at the beach. We have to let her off the leash so that she can attack the waves she thinks are attacking the kids. There’s a lot of screaming and barking and she has a really good time.

What’s your favorite beach to take her?

She likes going to Crissy Field because all the other dogs are down there. There’s also a little rocky beach near Land’s End that’s fun for the whole family to play with the rocks and things.

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about being a dog parent?

I think it’s just getting her all the exercise she needs, since she is a young dog. I mean, it’s San Francisco. You have a yard but it’s not an acre. Plus, she’s a runner and so, she just wants you to go to the park and throw the ball to her for half an hour. That’s hard to fit into your day sometimes.

What do you do with Allie on work days?

I work nights so we have a unique schedule where someone is usually home. They may not be awake but someone is usually around. She either sleeps with me when I am asleep in the morning or is with someone else in the house.

Before Louie’s Club, what did you do with Allie when you traveled?

Before Louie’s Club started, I actually posted something on Nextdoor saying that we have a dog, live in the area and were hoping to meet other people that do too. So through that, I had met one or two people in the neighborhood.

If it was just for one night or we couldn’t find someone, we would board her through Mr.Muggles because before we adopted her, she was fostered through them and so they know her. It was ok for shorter times and not so much for longer trips since it’s pricey.

So how has your experience been with Louie’s Club?

It’s been great. We now had one other couple that we talk with pretty regularly. We also have been able to help out a few other families with their pups. It’s been nice to get a message from somebody and quickly be able to figure out if it’s going to work for our schedule or not as well as when to try to do a dog meet up, etc. I’ve recommended Louie’s Club to other people.

It’s a useful service since so many people travel. It’s a part of life now, it’s not unusual to do a dog exchange.

When you get a message from another member and see the profile, are there specific things that you are looking for, besides scheduling?

It’s a bit easier for us to accept in general because of our unique schedule. There’s usually someone around and so, we don’t have to worry about the dogs being left alone in the house. As for the type of dogs, it’s nicer to host younger dogs since our dog is still young and very playful. We have had older dogs that are more relaxed but younger dogs that will play with Allie are usually preferred.

It’s like making sure my kid gets a good playdate.

What tips or advice do you have for other new members who are trying to find a good match?

One of the things that’s really helpful is to look for people that are close to you because it’s a lot easier to meet and greet your dogs if you are just a block from each other or you go the same dog park on a regular basis. I think that makes it a lot easier, just to coordinate.

We enjoyed getting to know Heather and her family and are so happy that she’s having a great experience with Louie’s Club!

If you have any questions or would like to be featured on Member Spotlight, shoot us an email at info@louiesclub.com.

Louie’s Club is active in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sign up now on Louie’s Club and meet both dog lovers and dog parents.