Many of them operate like child daycare, but what you might not know is there's one big difference: Doggie daycares are not regulated.

"I am in business of child care, just two extra legs," said Steve Ulene of the Barking Dog Lounge.

Ulene runs a doggie daycare that works like child care.

You drop off your dog for the day.

Pet owner Jane Hickie loves it for her dog, Truffles. Doggie Daycare Safety Doggie Daycare Checklist Discuss: Doggie Daycares

"I can't take her into my building," Hickie said. "It's better than being home alone."

Employees here play with the dogs, clean up after them, and make sure they're happy.

As more pet owners move downtown, doggie daycare is becoming more popular.

"They want to know their children are having fun, are playing, are socializing, are interacting and are getting exercise and human and dog interaction," Ulene said.

Cleanliness and good care are of utmost importance.

Dogs here are screened to make sure they'll get along. Vets are nearby, and owners sign a waiver in case of emergency care.

But what owners might not realize is that doggie daycares aren't regulated.

There can be dangers -- dog fights and injuries, diseases that can spread.

No agency's watching to make sure care is high quality.

The closest rules right now? Land use regulations. But they're written for kennels, not daycares.

And some owners would like to see some standards established.

"That's the thing I'm really concerned about because there are kind of some shady places that are opening up in people's basements and things like that."

The city of Seattle has heard complaints.

"Usually it's about the noise, or the odor, or both," said Alan Justad of Seattle City Planning.

So Seattle's mayor is asking city planners to come up with a land use designation for doggie daycares... clarifying 'where' they can be located.

"We're not looking for fees here, or fines," Justad said. "We're looking for a way to get this clear for everybody."

Great Dog daycare, located near Northgate, sparked this new look at rules.

A neighbor complained about the noise.

The business is right next to houses, and as owner Leslie Csokasy waits for the city to make some decisions, she admits that new land use rules could change the way she does business.

"They could certainly either relocate us or they could put stipulations in place that make it very difficult for us to continue to operate in an urban environment," Csokasy said.

Seattle's new land use rules are expected by the end of the year, then they go to the city council.

The King County Health Department, too, is revising its rules regarding daycares and kennels, and expects to have them next year.