Rover Review

Wednesday, October 20th

2021 Pet Sitter Service Reviews

Rover

• Cost: No subscription fees
• Sitter rates dependent on location

Rover is a web-based cat-and-dog-sitting service that connects pet owners with independently-contracted pet sitters. Whether you're in need of a place for Fido to stay overnight while you're on vacation, in-home sitting, or someone to pop in and take him for a walk while you're at work, Rover has it all.

Getting started

Upon visiting their homepage, you will be prompted to specify what sort of care you need, the size of your dog, your zip code, and the availability you need. From there, you are taken to a list of the available sitters in your area.

Read pet sitter reviews

If the idea of leaving your best friend with strangers makes you a little nervous, you can put your mind at ease by reading reviews from other pet owners and arranging a meet and greet before deciding who the best fit is for you and your pal. A profile with a badge means that the sitter has chosen to complete an optional background check, and a badge with a green star means that the sitter has passed an Enhanced background check, which means that they have undergone a search through county court records from the previous seven years. Other badges indicate other qualifications and training programs sitters have passed, such as Rover 101, Rover's basic pet-care course.

Narrow down your search

Sitters create their own rates for boarding, drop-in visits, daycare, and walking that will vary depending on the area in which you live, but you can use Rover's search tools to narrow the list of sitters down to show only those who fit your budget, as well as other criteria, such as whether they have a fenced yard, are pet first-aid certified, or if there are other pets in their home.

Pay attention

Due to its prominence among pet-sitting services and the ease with which one can sign up, some pet-sitters treat Rover as an easy way to earn some quick cash on the side, so pay special attention to sitter profiles and their reviews. When meeting with your sitter before entrusting your pet to their care, ask questions about their level of experience and be sure to detail any special needs your pet may have.

Get information while you're away

So, you've had a Meet & Greet and found your perfect fit, and Fido is having the time of his life while you're on vacation. The Rover app allows pet sitters to send you photos of his walks, playtimes, mealtimes, and just about everything else - like the route and duration of his walks, including how many potty breaks he took.

Rover guarantee

In the event that something goes wrong during a booking, the Rover Guarantee is there to put things right. After a $250 deductible, Rover will reimburse you for veterinary bills up to a limit of $25,000 per claim and damage to personal property caused by the sitter or third-party injuries up to $1,000,000 per claim. And, of course, Rover provides customers with 24/7 over-the-phone and online support.

Highly recommended

As there is always a certain level of risk involved when leaving a pet in another's care, we would encourage users to take full advantage of the Meet & Greet appointment and background checking capabilities. But otherwise, as a service designed to help pet owners find affordable care providers near them, Rover performs exactly as advertised and is highly recommended by TopConsumerReviews.