Keeping every pet and person safe

Bloom is a community built on trust. We check every member's ID and confirm who they are and where they live before they can send a message. Owners decide everything about their pet, and nothing happens until they say yes.

New here? Read how Bloom works and our Terms of Service.

ID checks

We check who everyone is. Owners decide who is right for their pet.

We check every member's government ID, real name, photo and address, so everyone on Bloom is a real person. But a check can't tell you if someone is good with a shy cat or a busy puppy. That's why owners chat and meet first.

Owners lead

The owner decides everything about their pet.

  • Owners decide who meets their pet, what they do, when and for how long.
  • Borrowers follow the owner's rules and never do anything against the pet's routine, habits or wellbeing.
  • We check every member and remove anyone who breaks our rules.

What Bloom can't do

We can't be at your meet-ups.

Plans are made between the owner and the borrower, and each is responsible for their own choices. We can't watch meet-ups or promise how they will go. So we ask that:

  • Owners tell the truth about their pet's health and behaviour
  • Borrowers follow the owner's rules and say no if they're not sure
  • Everyone agrees on times, rules and an emergency contact before they start

What Bloom does

We check every member, and we give you profiles, messages and a way to report problems. They are not a promise that nothing will go wrong, and they don't make Bloom responsible for your plans.

How ID checks work

We check IDs with Stripe Identity, a trusted company, and we check everyone's address. Owners still meet first and decide for themselves.

  1. ID verification

    We check your ID

    You take a photo of your government ID and a selfie. We check them with Stripe Identity to confirm who you are.

  2. Address verification

    We check your address

    We read your address from your ID. If you've moved, or used a passport, you send us a bill or bank statement and our team checks it.

  3. Verification complete

    You're in

    Only now can you send messages. Everyone you talk to on Bloom has been checked the same way.

Our rules

Four simple rules. We close the accounts of people who break them.

  1. Person hugging a happy dog

    The pet comes first

    The pet's safety, health and happiness always come first. Nothing should go against their routine or habits.

  2. Owner and borrower chatting on their phones

    The owner's rules, every time

    The owner decides how their pet is cared for. Borrowers follow the owner's rules and care notes exactly.

  3. Person filling in their profile with their dog

    Be honest

    Tell the truth on your profile and in your messages. Owners must share their pet's health and behaviour.

  4. Person and dog in front of a shield

    No harm, ever

    We close the account of anyone who hurts an animal, bullies, threatens or tricks people. We tell the police when we need to.

Before you meet

A quick checklist for your first meet-up.

For pet owners

  • Meet somewhere public the first time
  • Write your pet's routine, rules and an emergency contact
  • Share any health or behaviour needs
  • Read their profile and reviews
  • Only go ahead when you're sure. You can say no at any time

For borrowers

  • Learn the pet's routine, habits and limits from the owner
  • Follow the owner's rules exactly, every time
  • Only do what the owner has agreed to
  • Tell the owner straight away if anything happens
  • Say no if you can't care for the pet the way the owner asks

If something goes wrong

We don't have insurance. We don't pay for accidents, vet bills, damage or anything lost during a borrow or a meet-up.

Owners and borrowers are responsible for their own plans, even ones made outside the app. Our checks make Bloom safer, but they are not insurance.

What this means

  • We have no insurance and won't pay for accidents
  • Keep any pet or home insurance you would normally have
  • Report problems from your dashboard or contact us. We look into every report.

Read all the details in our Terms of Service.

Something not right? Tell us.

If you see someone hurting a pet, lying, bullying or doing anything unsafe, tell us straight away. We look into every report.

Contact us How Bloom works