A scenario of Big Brother run amok that not even George Orwell could have imagined.

In what sounds like the premise of a bad “Saturday Night Live” sketch, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently stepped up enforcement of a long-established, but little noticed regulation that may actually make it more difficult for New Yorkers to care for a friend’s pet without the government’s permission. Yes, seriously.

It’s a scenario of Big Brother run amok that not even George Orwell could have imagined.

This new push to enforce the regulation follows the increasing popularity of pet-sitting apps like Rover that allow users to find a pet-sitter, or sign up themselves to care for another person’s pet. It’s an arrangement that works well for pet-owners who are looking for an alternative to traditional kennels that can cost a lot more and typically confine dogs in cages for longer spells. And for pet sitters, these apps are a convenient way to make some extra income.

Like other sharing services like Uber and Airbnb, which rely on feedback from users, Rover allows pet owners to rate dog sitters. They can even request to see the dog sitter’s apartment before handing over their pet to a stranger.

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