New dating app for dog lovers lets you make a profile for your pup too — but experts warn there’s a catch
Dating in the online world is bleak. Some people have no choice but to hop on platforms in search of the one. While the endless swipes are almost soul-sucking, one entrepreneur has discovered a way to light up a tiny spark. A new dating app for dog people is redefining the online dating landscape by pairing people based on their affinity for their furry friends. Cindy Himmel, founder of the dating app called Frolly, has shared how her unique platform came to be and whether it’s doing its magic on dog lovers seeking love. However, experts are not convinced and have warned about a possible anomaly.
Himmel, who hails from Charlotte, recounted how the idea of her dating app popped up during a casual chat with her daughter, Amanda Pietrick. When she told her mother about someone she met at a bar, Himmel was invested. “I saw her a week or so later and said, ‘Whatever happened to so and so?’” she told The Washington Post. She was later disheartened upon learning that her daughter did not wish to proceed with that person, knowing “he wasn’t that into dogs.” Himmel compared this experience to the common reaction of people about online dating.
“When I would say to people, ‘Are you dating online?’ The answer was always, like, ‘ugh.’ Maybe this could spark joy in dating again, because our dogs bring us so much joy,” the entrepreneur and philanthropist said. Just like that, Frolly launched in late October in Charlotte. It is free to use for now, but Himmel plans to expand the app to other parts of the country and eventually charge users a monthly fee. She will donate some of the revenue to local animal shelters in every city where the app is launched. In her hometown, Himmel plans to donate to the Forgotten, New Family Rescue.
Safe to say, the dating app for dog lovers is already making waves among love-seekers. Lauren Haynes, a young professional who moved a few cities before landing in Charlotte, was rather thrilled about the dating app’s new initiative. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is new.’ Why not give it a try, since all the other ones haven’t been working?” Haynes quipped. Apparently, the woman has tried out every dating app in the market and “they all feel the same.” She does not own a dog, but is hopeful about the future. “I think having and taking care of animals, that’s such a green flag,” she concluded.
There might be a few downsides, too. Satira Streeter, a relationship expert and couples counselor in Washington, feels people might be overestimating the potential of matched dog lovers. “There’s no scientific research that says, okay, if two of you have a love of dogs, that is going to be the thing that can bring you together.” Likewise, Brianna Dick, a dog trainer and owner of Pack Leader Help in Virginia, explained that couples with dogs simply set high expectations. “People kind of just throw their two dogs together and hope it sticks.” Dogs, like children, may or may not get along well initially. Therefore, dog owners should make efforts to slowly introduce their partners’ pups to theirs.