This investor made $55,000 renting her place to pets

Although most landlords stick to human tenants, Casey Nguyen learned that renting out her home to dogs can actually be more profitable. Here’s how this investor with eight rentals across three states turned her love of animals into the ultimate cash cow.

Q: How did you get the idea to rent your home to pets? “It started when my husband and I got our first puppy in 2015. Every time we tried taking our dog to public places, it felt stressful—too many dogs, inattentive owners, not always a clean or safe environment. We kept thinking there had to be a better way for dogs to socialize. That’s when I found Rover, where you can list your property to board dogs, cats, and other animals. We had a big house and yard in California, so it worked. ”

Q: How did you begin? “We started at about $35 a night, hosting dogs in our home. At first, it was a couple hundred dollars here and there. Then we started making $1,000 to $2,000 a month. In 2024, we had seven, eight, nine dogs staying with us. That year, we made about $55,000. In 2025, after moving and closing for a few months due to travel, we still made $10,000. One of our long-term rentals in Texas made half that.”

Q: How does it compare to renting to people? “We’ve been lucky with good tenants. But dogs are easier. Dogs don’t complain. They don’t care about finishes. They just want to sit on the couch.”

Q: What advice would you give someone eager to try this? “This only works if you genuinely love dogs—or cats. If you go through Rover, they handle insurance and protections. At the end of the day, it’s still a people business, so you treat the dogs well and their parents.”

Q: Do you have a dog of your own? “Yes, a 10-year-old Pomeranian named Boyd. He doesn’t care for the other dogs; he just likes to sleep. But we like to joke that when our other dog, Romeo, passed away, Boyd probably thought Romeo just finally went home after a very long stay.”