It’s man’s worst friend.
Wag, the app known as “the Uber of dog-walking,” has lost not one but three New York pooches in the last month alone, disgruntled customers revealed Friday — a day after The Post shared the story of Norman, a Chihuahua who went out with one of the company’s walkers on the Upper East Side last week and hasn’t been seen since.
Nash the Cane Corso (left to right),Norman the Chihuahua, and Freddie the Chihuahua-Dachshund
“I’m in shock — I can’t believe it’s three dogs in one month!” said Norman’s owner, Nicole DiCarlo.
“We need to tell the people that are still using [Wag].”
In addition to Norman, Brooklyn cane corso Nash and Midtown Chihuahua-dachshund Freddie also gave their Wag walkers the slip in recent weeks — but were found alive later on.
Nash’s owner says he booked a walker from the service on Feb. 4 while he was in Philadelphia hosting a Super Bowl party — but he had to hightail it back to East Flatbush when the walker dropped the leash while picking up the 140-pound pooch’s poop and the dog made a run for it.
“My mother went out looking for Nash, and when she found the walker he’s like, ‘Oh I dropped the leash’ — that’s the one thing you shouldn’t do!” said Tim Taylor, 27.
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Wag says it mounted a big search effort — including posting fliers, coordinating search parties, manning a tip line and offering a $5,000 reward.
Nash was eventually spotted by locals almost two weeks later — and 50 pounds lighter, according to Taylor. But while Wag was helpful in tracking him down, it should never have gotten to that point, Taylor says. “While I was blessed to get Nash back, others won’t have the same fate,” he said.
Ten days later, Freddie slipped out of his collar while out with a Wag walker at East 34th Street and Park Avenue. “The dog walker from the company Wag was walking him, and he got out of his collar,” the owner said in a video for lost-dog listing service FindShadow.
Freddie was found the following day, and Wag says it also mounted a search effort for the wee pup.
Quizzed on how the company trains and vets its walkers, a spokeswoman said it does an in-person orientation, background check and an online safety and “dog knowledge” test. “These tests are difficult, and the majority of applicants do not pass them,” said Dini von Mueffling.
Like Norman’s walker, the company says Freddie’s and Nash’s leash wranglers have been suspended pending reviews.