Everything you need to know
Learn how the Petcare Exchange works before creating an account. Each section explains a different part of the service.
1. How the exchange works
- Join for free and receive 100 one-hour Digital Chips once, when you first register.
- Choose the care you need, its dates and times, and an available member sitter.
- Send the request. The sitter can accept or decline.
- When accepted, the requested Chips are reserved. After care is confirmed complete, the Chips move to the sitter.
- The sitter earns Chips to use later when they need care for their own pet.
In the current demonstration, bookings and payments are simulated.
2. Digital Chips explained
100 Chips = 100 hours of pet care for a new member. One Chip equals one hour. Chips cannot be purchased, borrowed, or spent below your available balance. Additional Chips are earned only by caring for other members' pets. Unused Chips carry forward. The system calculates requested hours from your booking times.
3. Types of pet care
In your home: a member comes to feed your pet, provide water, offer companionship, take walks, and complete any agreed care. In the sitter's home: your pet stays with another member when both agree that arrangement is appropriate. Bookings may cover hours, days, or longer periods according to the care arrangement and agreed credit hours.
4. Watch and talk to your pet with your existing security system
You do not need to buy a new security system or change companies. If you already have compatible home cameras and two-way audio, continue using your security provider's own app to watch your pet, speak to them, or give familiar voice commands while you are away. You may also check on visits as agreed with your sitter.
How to use it: (1) Open your existing security or camera app. (2) Select the camera in the area where your pet is staying. (3) View the live feed. (4) Use the microphone/talk button if your equipment supports two-way audio. Camera functions depend on your particular system and subscription.
Cameras are optional. You can use Petcare Exchange without a home security system. The exchange itself does not connect to, operate, or view your home cameras. Inform sitters about any recording and agree on camera boundaries before visits.
5. Safety & trust
Discuss your pet's needs, home-access arrangements, emergency contact, and how you will communicate before confirming care. Meet the sitter when practical, explain medications and routines, and be clear about any cameras or microphones. Never share security account passwords. Identity verification and additional live-service safeguards remain to be implemented before public launch.
6. Membership & fees
Membership is free. In the planned live service, the pet owner requesting care pays a $10 fee per completed booking. Sitters receive Chips, not cash. Under a proposed security-company partnership, the fee would be shared $5/$5 between the participating security company and Petcare Exchange. No live fees are charged in this demo.