Rover

Rover: pet care platform at home and in the sitter's home

Rover is an online service that allows dog and cat owners to find and book local sitters. The platform centralizes the search, communication, payment, and support for each booking, and is aimed at caring for dogs and cats of any age, from puppies and kittens to senior animals.

Available services

Rover's catalog covers several types of care, both in the sitter's home and in the owner's home:

• Boarding: overnight stay at the sitter's home, for dogs and cats, with personalized care and photo updates.
• House Sitting: the sitter stays in the client's home to maintain the pet's routine and look after the house.
• Drop-In Visits: daytime visits for feeding, fresh water, potty breaks, or litter box cleaning and play.
• Doggy Day Care: daytime care.
• Dog Walking: scheduled walks.
• Dog Training: training sessions.
• Grooming: recently added service.

How booking works

The process begins with a search by address or zip code. Users can filter sitters based on their pet's specific needs, such as size, spay/neuter status, need for grooming, or preference for a fenced-in yard. Each sitter profile shows verified reviews, experience, and services offered. Rover recommends scheduling a free Meet & Greet before confirming the booking, and offers the option of a trial day as a regular service. Once agreed, payment is completed through the platform and messaging is available before, during, and after the service. Many sitters offer multiple services, making it possible to keep the same provider for changing needs.

Trust and safety

Rover requires sitters joining the community to pass a background check. In North America, the profile indicates the type of check with a badge: blue for the basic check and gold for the enhanced check. Every booking includes reservation protection, 24/7 support, and the Rover Guarantee, which covers up to $25,000 reimbursement for eligible vet care. The platform also has features to block and report, and recommends reading verified reviews and scheduling Meet & Greets. The Star Sitter program recognizes sitters and dog walkers with a track record of high ratings and quick responses.

Rates and availability

Prices are set by the sitters themselves and vary by service, location, and experience. They may be higher on holidays or for additional services such as grooming, pick-up and drop-off, additional pets, or extended stays. To check estimated rates, the platform suggests searching with the location and completing an individual profile for each pet. Last-minute availability can be identified by a green recently updated badge or Star Sitter status.

Coverage and app

Rover operates with a network of sitters in numerous cities in the United States, such as Albuquerque, Anaheim, Anchorage, Arlington, Atlanta, Aurora, Austin, Bakersfield, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boston, Bronx, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chandler, Charlotte, Chesapeake, Chicago, Chula Vista, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Durham, El Paso, Fort Wayne, Fort Worth, Fresno, Garland, Glendale, Greensboro, Henderson, Hialeah, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Irving, and others. The platform also indicates that it offers sitters nationally and internationally, and has a mobile app to connect users with the service.