Rover.com Offers Peer-to-Peer Dog Sitting

Fri May 22, 2015 | 06:00am
A pup plays frisbee at Arroyo Burro
Paul Wellman

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.

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