Pawperty Fetch

Providing dog owners with a service that helps them find homes more efficiently, allowing them to search less and tour more.

Role:

UX Researcher

UX Designer

Service:

Service Design

Duration:

8 Months

Situation

In the United States, 57% of millennials own or foster a dog, and many consider their pets part of their family. Dog owners have a strong bond with their pets, leading many owners to prioritize finding a pet-friendly home, at the expense of quality and safety.

How might we make home searching quicker and easier for all dog owners?

In the United States, 57% of millennials own or foster a dog. Some consider their dogs as their children. There’s a close bond between dog owners and their pets. So much that owners are willing to sacrifice their means of quality and safety to find a place to live with their pets comfortably. As the demographic of pet parents grows, addressing the lack of attentiveness matters more than ever.

In the video above, you'll meet Brittani, a dog mom who explains a stressful event that amplifies how difficult finding a home as a dog owner can be.

74%

of participants surveyed stated they have difficulty finding pet-friendly rentals.

- Independent Study

90%

of survey takers consider their pet to be a member of their family.

- Forbes Advisor

63.8M+

U.S. residents have at least one pet.

- 2021 US Census Bureau

Research, Recruitment, Interviews, and Insights

Through my initial research, I found evidence suggesting an increase in the number of "dog parents" among millennials. Dallas, for example, population pet owners make up around 46.9% of residents in the metro area. Many people now treat their pets as close family members and are unwilling to compromise by leaving them behind when moving. In the US, 56% of homeowners and 38% of renters have pets.

In light of this trend, I decided to focus my research on apartment complexes, housing authority associations, insurance companies (both rental and pet), current apartment locating services, shelters, and other resources that could help address this issue.

After analyzing insights from both the housing and pet industries, I shifted my focus to dog owners—their experiences, challenges, and suggestions. Through 72 survey responses and four in-depth interviews, I gathered valuable firsthand perspectives that shaped the foundation of Pawperty Fetch. Using these insights, I began developing a business canvas model and customer value proposition to ensure the service effectively addresses the real needs of dog owners seeking housing.

Research revealed three desired traits when dog owners search for a home.

  • Community

    • The ability to connect with owners.

  • Opportunity

    • The ability of choice

  • Transparency

    • The ability to properly budget

Introducing

Pawperty Fetch

Going Homeward Bound!

How can Pawperty Fetch make home searching enjoyable and worry-free?

By simplifying the process of finding the right apartment or home, you can easily filter options based on breed restrictions, weight limits, and income requirements established by each complex. This also provides a way to connect seamlessly with your local pet community and discover pet resources, events, and more.

Different Journeys using Pawperty Fetch

  • Simone's Downsizing

    Simone wants to downsize her living situation and find a place with a community and a pet-friendly environment. 

  • Irene's Time Crunch

    Irene, a dog mom of 5, has to leave her home due to a policy change. She becomes overwhelmed by the short time frame and the lack of options.

  • Victor's moving to a new state

    Victor has two bulldog mixes; he’s planning to move out of state due to a new promotion. He does research online but becomes overwhelmed by information.

Filling in the gaps for a niche audience.

Pawperty Fetch provides the same services that other home-finding apps may have but offers an extra step and caters to the wants and needs of pet parents.

Potential next steps

The next steps will involve additional testing, building a directory, and implementing some integrations. Over the years, the plan is to expand from local to regional and eventually to national coverage for all shelters, ensuring that the service is accessible to everyone across the U.S.


Thank you for reading my case study!

If you want to work with me, feel free to contact me!

Email: athaliamgaston@gmail.com