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UNIT 5
LESSON 2 THE 'WHO CAN WALK MY DOG' APP
I have recently found out that in fact ‘app’ is another word for ‘applications’. I think ‘applications’ is an uncool word anyway. My mother is mad about apps and develops them in her spare time for other people to use. She thinks they are awesome.
She is very creative, like other people who design apps. By now, there are so many imaginative apps around! Everybody with a smart phone has apps.
My father has an app for joggers. My mother has one for cooking and another one for the weather.

Obviously, I have more than one to chat with my friends. In America, I saw an app that I think needs some publicity. It is called ‘Wag’. Have you heard of it? I reckon you have not. What do you think it’s about? Here is a hint. What do dogs do when they are happy? Yes! They wag their tails. ‘Wag’ brings dog owners and people who want to take dogs for a walk together. Dog owners who can’t take their dogs out for a walk can see who is available to do it for them and contact them. But how do the dog walkers get into someone’s house? The key of the dog owners’ houses are in boxes, just like letter- boxes. They can be opened with a code in ‘Wag’. I’m sure the dog wags its tail when it hears the key in the lock and sees the person.


What if the person comes for the first time? Does the dog bark instead of wagging its tail? What if the dog is cheeky and playful? The dog walker can see the route that the dog normally walks because it shows up on his phone. So they know the distance and where to go. Cool huh?
The one who walks the dog gets about six Euros for a half hour walk. It also means they have to clean the litter the dog makes. Of course they can’t pollute the pavement. Some of the money paid by the dog owner goes to ‘Wag.’

It is expensive, but it is very useful for dog owners because they can check to see who can walk their dog if they are late at work or somewhere else. For those who want to earn some pocket money and like dogs, this is a very good way. I am very fond of dogs especially when they wag their tails. I told my mother about this app. She’s going to make one for the Netherlands. After all, if it works in America, it is also good for us. There are enough dogs and many people who work the whole day here. Most of all it is good for people like me, who want to earn some extra pocket money. I reckon it's good for dogs too, because they get outside instead of sitting at home and waiting for their masters or mistresses to come home!
Words
recently
applications
uncool
mad about
develop
spare time
awesome
creative
design
imaginative
joggers
obviously
publicity
wag
reckon
tail
dog owner
available
key
letter boxes
lock
bark
instead of
cheeky
playful
show up
distance
mean
litter
pollute
pavement
useful
fond of
especially
the Netherlands
after all
whole
pocket money
master
mistress