Rover.com Offers Peer-to-Peer Dog Sitting

The dog days of summer bring vacation fun for many families, often at the expense of the dogs themselves, who have to sometimes stay behind. Fortunately, a new website, Rover.com, offers an affordable option for dog owners who need a shelter but don’t want to go the traditional boarding route.

The Seattle-based, peer-to-peer website, which stretched its paws to Santa Barbara in 2012, connects owners with dog-loving locals who will take care of their pets in exchange for a fee. The service includes free pet and sitter insurance, access to 24/7 vet consultations, and a video reel highlighting happy moments from the dog’s stay.

Joan Ariel, who has dog sat for Rover for three years, calls the model a “win-win” for owners and sitters alike. “Some dog-boarding facilities are fine, but there is nothing like dogs being in a family environment with lots of individual attention and care, especially when they are separated from their ‘own people,’” she said.