Puppy Time For Sale As New Business Caters To Those Without Pets

DITMAS PARK, BROOKLYN – First there was the cat cafe, now it's dates with dogs.

A new Brooklyn business is offering quality time with puppies to would-be dog owners without the time or space to own a four-legged friend outright.

"Kids just light up when they see him," said Bianca Ottley, giving her 5-year-old pet husky Diezel a scratch. "And he takes to everybody and anybody."

Ottley began running Play With Pets from her home on East 16th Street near Beverly Road last summer, she said. The business concept was inspired by the rows of kids who gathered outside the yard to watch Diezel play.

"Why not make it a little more personal?" She thought.

Ottley has since adopted a 10-week-old cocker spaniel puppy named Marley who has joined Diezel in his line-up of party appearances, photo shoots and bouts of random running in the front yard.

"Most of our clients are children," Ottley said. "Parents love that they're running around and away from their phones."

It costs $10 to play with a pup for 10 minutes or $25 for a half hour (that's per family, not per person) and proceeds fund pet supplies and donations to animal shelters and the ASPCA, said Ottley.

"I love dogs," said Ottley. "All the money is going straight back to them."

Ottley hopes to expand the business in 2019 by taking on foster dogs who need temporary homes until they are adopted, she said. Until then, keeping up with Marley and Diezel is all the challenge Ottley needs.

"They love to give kisses," she said, "But they eat a lot of unnecessary things."

For more information, check out Play With Puppies on Instagram or email playwithpuppiesnyc@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of Play With Pets