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What’s Rover?

By Colleen Williams
published: January 26, 2018 - updated: June 17, 2022 • 3 min. read
person walking two dogs

Founded in 2011 with headquarters based in Seattle, WA, Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

Ever had to work late, knowing Buster is cooped up at home, alone? What about those times you’re booked for a business trip and you’re out of options to watch Simba? As pet parents, we worry and stress so much about the welfare of our pets when we’re not there, that it makes the hours creep by slower and can be downright distracting at work. And vacations? We know some fur-moms and fur-dads who wait by the phone for pics, they’re so worried about Luna and Tucker. Well, relief is on the horizon.

With millions of services booked across 11,000+ cities with 140,000+ sitters and 95% 5-star reviews, Rover is changing how we as pet parents use and book services to take care of our 4-legged friends – whether that’s in-home boarding, pet sitting, dog walking, or doggy day care. Rover is an online platform and app that connects pet parents with people who have been screened, vetted and can guarantee that they’ll treat your pets like family. Because let’s face it – giving the keys to your castle is one thing, but handing over the leash is something that stresses pet parents out even more.  With Rover’s high ratings and consistent delivery of great pet service providers, pet parents can rest assured their home and their furry family members are in good hands.

What began as a primarily dog business has expanded to include kitties for pet sitting, but at its heart, Rover is still “the dog people” who gets your pup out for a walk, in for a belly rub, up for a tennis ball and down for treat. Life happens – you have to work late, you want to join that happy hour after work, or go on a trip – and so sometimes you need extra help from someone who you trust to keep your dog happy and safe. But it’s not just about dog love — Rover is also an award-winning technology business committed to making pet care safe, easy, and affordable.

How It WorksRover logo

After downloading the app (or using the site), you first set up a profile for your pet, including a photo, likes/dislikes, and all pertinent information. When you’re ready, you can then search nearby, trusted sitters. You can quickly connect with one of Rover’s dog walkers, or you can browse for an overnight or day care sitter, depending on your needs. You can read reviews of the sitters by verified Rover.com users, and there’s opportunity to schedule a Meet & Greet so you and your pet can feel out the new walker/sitter. If all goes well, you can then book and pay securely through the Rover app.

Rover has great extras on the app – the sitter/walker checks in when the walk has started and then checks out when it’s over, as well as has a chance to snap photos and upload them, and so much more.   Each walk also comes with a digital report card showing your dog’s path on the walk — as well as pee and poo updates.

Perfect Solution If Your Pet is Sick or Injured

Touted as a dog lover’s other best friend — second only, of course, to your dog – Rover is our go-to favorite app to make life a little easier, whether you’re on vacation, traveling for work, or just hitting your daily 9-to-5. But we also have a secret lifehack: we like to book a Rover sitter when the pup or cat is recovering from veterinary procedures, so they can pop in and make sure the pet in question keeps resting, cone is on, and there’s no chewing the cast off. In those first crucial days after a surgery, booking a pet sitter will help your dog or cat recover if you need to be at work, and it has the added bonus of that one-on-one attention your pet may need. It’s a great alternative to a daycare facility, where a dog especially risks further injury or illness from interaction with a ton of other pups.

We’re ecstatic that Rover can coordinate a sitter who will be there in a pinch, and has a database of trustworthy pet people. It looks like we’re not alone – Canine Journal ranked Rover #1, and Trust Pilot has given them a rating of 5 stars.

colleen williams
By Colleen Williams

Over the past decade, Colleen has written about health, wellness, beauty, and even pets for The New York Times, The Cut, Refinery29, xoVain, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, and Seattle Met Magazine, as well as many beauty brands. She has a BFA in Art History from the University of New Mexico and an AAS in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design in New York.

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