Dog Cafes

There's been a lot of talk recently about cat cafes popping up in cities like New York and San Francisco. The feline establishments have long been in a fixture in Tokyo, giving tiny apartment dwellers their pet fix. While Japan now has cafes that feature all sorts of animals from owls to goats, the concept is just starting to trickle over to America. I'm guessing we'll never see a goat cafe in the States, but a canine version may be on the way.

Two recent Indiegogo fundraising campaigns have been trying to raise money to open dog cafes that will showcase adoptable pups in New York and Los Angeles. These cafes aim to reinvent the way we connect with homeless pets. Besides coming up with the funding, the main challenge is working within health codes. To work within the rules, both ventures plan to create two adjacent, but separate businesses where you could order food in one location and take the treats to enjoy in the space with the dogs.

Living in New York City, I have a lot of friends who love dogs, but can't have one because of their apartment rules or long work hours. A dog cafe would be a great way for people to get their pet fix and meet fellow animal lovers. Meanwhile the dogs can meet potential adopters and get socialized.

The Los Angeles Indiegogo project didn't meet their financing goal in time, but the New York one is still soliciting donations through February 21. However, if the dog cafes don't pan out, there are still other ways to satisfy your pet fix, like volunteering at your local animal shelter.

Would you visit a dog cafe?