Why We Started WalknStay

Astro is our third child. That is why leaving him was always the hardest part of any trip.

Holidays and even day trips became difficult. Who could we trust with him? Who had space? Who would treat him like part of the family, not just another booking?

That stress stays with you. You end up planning everything around the dog, or skipping things you would otherwise do. We kept thinking there had to be a better way for families like ours.

Technology and community

I came at the problem from technology. Asha came at it from community.

I have spent decades working in software and technology, so naturally we looked at what was already out there. There are established platforms in the UK, but we kept coming back to the same thought: we could build something of our own. Something that feels local, careful and designed around how people here actually live with their dogs.

Asha has always been involved in community initiatives, from school buses to the practical things that make everyday family life work better. That has shaped WalknStay just as much as the technology.

For us, this is not simply an app. It is about trust between people who care about their neighbourhoods, their families and the animals in their lives.

Another reason to build

Our children are older now, and many of our friends have children at university or starting out in work. At the same time, lots of people are looking for flexible ways to earn that fit around study, family, another job or simply the way they want to live.

That gave us another reason to build WalknStay.

If we can help dog owners feel less restricted while helping people nearby earn money doing something they genuinely enjoy, that feels worth doing.

Why now?

It feels like the right time.

Neighbours helping neighbours still matters. People want services they can trust, and technology can now make finding, matching, booking and coordinating much easier without taking away the human side of it.

That is important to us.

The technology, including AI, should stay in the background. The relationship between the owner, the person caring for their dog and the dog itself should always come first.

We are going for it

WalknStay is our answer to a problem we experienced ourselves: how do you find someone you trust to look after a dog who is part of your family?

We are going for it.

Not because building a marketplace is easy, but because this is something we believe should exist. Something built around community, flexible earning and better care for dogs like Astro.

And if it makes life a little easier for families like ours and creates opportunities for the people around them, then it will be worth building.