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Saturday, May 28th
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.
Whether you're going on vacation, travel often for work, or just work long hours and worry about your furry, feathered, or scaled friend while you're away, hiring a pet-sitter can provide you with peace of mind - and your best friend with some extra love.
Though pet sitting is generally defined as the act of a caregiver coming to your house to look after your pet (including walking, playing, feeding, administering medication, and many times spending the night), most pet-sitting services also provide options for doggy boarding (meaning your pup spends the night at the caregiver's home), doggy daycare (your pup spends the day with human and canine playmates, then comes home to tell you all about it), regular drop-in visits for walking, and even grooming.
Many people go the route of asking a friend or family member to look after Fido while they're away, and while their heart might be in the right place, simply being a pet-lover is not enough when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of a pet. Our pets are family, and when searching for the best sitter or pet-sitting service for the job, there are many things to consider guaranteeing that our pets are in good hands.
Some factors to consider include:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Pet Sitting Services available today. We hope this review helps you find the most qualified sitter to take care of your animal companions!
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