DogSpot To Install 2 Doghouses Near Port Washington Stop & Shop

PORT WASHINGTON, NY–Starting June 6, Port Washington dog-owners can bring their four-legged friends on grocery runs.

The Stop & Shop at 65 Shore Road is teaming up with DogSpot, a Brooklyn-based start-up, as part of a three-month pilot period. DogSpot houses are lockable, self-sanitizing, camera-monitored, and temperature-controlled doghouses that are meant to allow dog-owners to bring their dogs on walks to businesses they otherwise couldn't: grocery stores, restaurants or anywhere else that prohibits dogs inside due to food preparation.

Chelsea Brownridge, the co-founder and CEO of DogSpot, came up with the idea as an alternative to leaving dogs inside a hot car or tied to a pole, where they could overheat, escape or get stolen.

“A lot of entrepreneurs of start-up companies will tell you [their idea] came from a personal everyday problem," Brownridge, an owner of two dogs named Winston and Pepita, told Patch.

Her everyday problem was that when she first got Winston, she realized how many places she walks to don't allow dogs.

"What it meant for Winston was that if I was going to go to the store for a minute, he would have to miss out on that walk," Brownridge said. "So I thought, 'What if there was a safe place for a few minutes for him to wait, so then he could go on so many more walks with me?'"

Two doghouses will be installed at the Port Washington Stop & Shop, one at each entrance. Interested parties would download the app, sign up and enter their payment information. From there, they can reserve and unlock the house directly from their phone.

Shoppers can check in on their fur-babies with the house's monitor, as well as adjust the temperature to their pet's preference. A sanitation light goes off between every use. Two small or medium dogs can fit in the same house, but owners will never have to worry about two strange dogs sharing one.

The local Stop & Shop marks DogSpot's first foray into Port Washington, and the partnership provides DogSpot with its first mainstream grocery store location.

As a New York City company, DogSpot had experience with urban, walkable businesses like shopping malls, coffee shops, ice cream shops and restaurants. However, Brownridge said grocery stores are a top performer for the company. The DogSpot houses in Port Washington will be one of the first more drivable locations in the suburbs.

Brownridge said that if all goes well during the test period, DogSpot may install two more houses near the Port Washington Stop & Shop. The program could even be expanded to more of the supermarket's locations.

"We know our customers love their pets, so we’re excited to introduce this innovation to our Long Island shoppers as another way to help make their grocery shopping easier and more convenient," Stop & Shop Senior Vice President Bob Yager said via press release. "Depending on the success of this initial pilot, we may roll out more DogSpots in other communities that we serve across the Northeast."

While the official launch will be June 6, a kick-off event will take place on June 8. Local dog owners can visit the Port Washington Stop & Shop for “puppuccinos,” photo opportunities and free demos.