• Rover

Rover

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Overview

Rover has a rating of 1.2 stars from 605 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Rover most frequently mention customer service, pet sitter, and next day problems. Rover ranks 487th among Dogs sites.

  • Service
    218
  • Value
    199
  • Shipping
    47
  • Returns
    66
  • Quality
    165
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 1.7%
Positive
1
Neutral
0
Negative
59
239
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How would you rate Rover?
Top Positive Review

“Rover as a platform is terrible, but the sitters are legitimate.”

Becky S.
8/11/22

The reviews on here are absolutely insane, and not in a good way. 95% of Rover sitters are wonderful humans who care deeply about your pets. The reviews on here are clearly sabotage and paid for by other platforms. I will say that Rover as a platform is awful as they take 20% from sitters. Owners, if your sitter is comfortable, please pay them in cash. This will save you and them fees, plus Rover rarely actually intervenes when something goes wrong.

Top Critical Review

“Terrible customer service”

Doug L.
10/6/24

If you ever have a problem with billing, you will never be able to talk to someone. The sitters are wonderful, but, when my dog died, and I had to re-block for just my cat, they kept the 500+ dollars I had already paid and then made me pay again for the cat just to confirm since my dog died. Pretty heartless. Supposedly, I will get refunded for the visit I had but why can't they take the new booking out of the money I had already paid them? The most unnerving part is that they have this endless menu system that keeps you from reaching a real person. Their ratings also look really high on Google, but that's because the people they have a sitters are really good business end is terrible.

Reviews (605)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

pet sitter (85) customer service (72) dog sitter (76) rover sitter (53) use rover (124)
Thumbnail of user sharis220
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 27th, 2022
Verified purchase

1. Some of the pet sitters are this site are criminals.
2. Many of the reviews are fake.
3. If you want to know my experience, check out what I reported on The Ripoff Report. (I didn't spell check as I was so angry about the entire experience). https://www.ripoffreport.com/report/matthew-short/avon-park-fl-highlands-county-*******

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user sylviaa215
Massachusetts
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 23rd, 2022

I paid for boarding for 18 days. Handed my dog over and 6 hours he was no longer with the boarders, there was a hole in their fence and he had escaped. I had five days of worry and emotional distress. He was exposed to a major highway and could have killed. He was found on the fifth day and spent the remaining time with a friend. I have asked for a refund and was told they had refunded the money in October. They were not paid until November and the stay was in December. They are responding to me with rubbish. Don't risk your dogs life with rover.

Thumbnail of user lisal605
Idaho
1 review
31 helpful votes
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March 1st, 2019

Be prepared that if any issue comes up between the pet sitter and your dog, that Rover will side with the pet sitter and block you from putting any negative reviews on the pet sitters profile. This is ensures that the pet sitters always have high reviews even when they should not be pet sitting. Plus the sitter has ALL of your information but they protect their pet sitters information from you. If you do use this service, make sure you write down the pet sitters license plate number and get a copy of their drivers license.

Our pet sitter could not handle our frightened 5 pound chihuahua and started texting us while we were hundreds of miles away saying she couldn't get him to stop barking at her and she didn't think she could do this. WHAT? We were scared she was just going to walk away from the job and not even feed him. Never never again will I trust my precious little dogs to a stranger - especially from a site like Rover that blocks dog owners from posting honest reviews.

Thumbnail of user michaele582
Massachusetts
1 review
24 helpful votes
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February 1st, 2020

Rover is fatally flawed. As an owner looking for services it is not possible to delete responses from potential sitters (even if they have declined). More at issue you cannot review a sitter until you have booked them. Two potential sitters stood me up and a third their dog attacked mine at the meet and greet. Many of the reviews sitters have are from other sitters and what better way to stake someone out to rob then to pretend to be a sitter to find out about a person's plans to be on vacation. Be scared, be very scared.

Thumbnail of user melaniej51
California
1 review
5 helpful votes
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September 22nd, 2019

I have tried to contact someone at Rover.com with a couple of questions and I get no response. Other than that, I have had nothing but good experiences with the nice clients that I have and repeatedly work for. I sit in my client's home and have had no issues with the animals or their parents. I just wish someone at Rover would respond to my questions.

Thumbnail of user markf1128
Arizona
7 reviews
42 helpful votes
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April 1st, 2021

I'm a boarder on Rover. They keep changing their site and making it worse. Ever since they merged with "dogvacay," it keeps getting worse. They implement untested changes. When a change does work, it's like a regression (looks worse, less rich/featured.). It's like they got rid of the Rover web developer and replaced them with the dogvacay people. It's horrible. They had a nice interface 3-4 years ago. But, they just keep screwing with it, making it worse. It's like there's no inspiration there now.

I've moved to wagwalking. I encourage everyone I meed to do that.

Tip for consumers:
Go to wagwalking.com. Rover has lost its passion & inspiration.

Thumbnail of user garyl853
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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October 17th, 2021

Tayler sure talked a good game. After three days of watching her leave my dog for hours, not clean up after my dog or herself. I texted her and asked her to not have her boyfriend at the house and clean up after herself and turn off the lights. She then decided to abandon my animals and send me a text explaining that she was uncomfortable being watched on camera. Of course she was, she is lazy and irresponsible. Do not use this service and do not hire this girl. I am out of the country and I'll have to cut my vacation short and book a flight home as soon as possible.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jc1285
Texas
1 review
4 helpful votes
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January 16th, 2021

I have personally never used them my neighbor I have never met before used them while they were out of town this weekend. The lady took the dogs for a walk and they got away from her at night and it took 5 minutes to get them and have been walking the dogs around for about 30 minutes looking for someone and couldn't find anyone tried calling the number on the tags again and finally got in touch with them and come to find out the hired someone on rover but tell me why there were 3 people at this ladies house if they hired 1 person to care for there dogs! Another reason I only trust a few people with my dogs and my kids so Rover you get -5 stars from me!

Tip for consumers:
Don’t use Rover look into rescues people volunteer and dog sit and house sit on the side to make money

Products used:
Didn’t use and never will with that type of service my neighbors get

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user sharonc1800
Iowa
1 review
7 helpful votes
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January 1st, 2022

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE! I booked a sitter named Rhonda (don't use her!). She was supposed to be there in the morning, never showed, then cancelled my entire booking because she got angry when i asked her when she would be arriving. Terrible terrible experience. The Company Rover tried to find me another sitter but NO WAY would I use them again. If you are going to hire someone who does this to you? Out of town and nobody to watch my furry babies because Rhonda got 'but-hurt'? There was a recording of the text messages, absolutely nothing out of line by me - I can never use them again and sleep good at night

Thumbnail of user naomik17
Arizona
1 review
19 helpful votes
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December 17th, 2018

I booked a sitter twice and both cancelled. One had to cancel because of health issues, (which I understand) and she gave me a two week notice. The other one was a last minute cancel prior to going out of town and the sitter had the audacity to lie about our meeting. I scheduled a meet and greet with him, he met our dog and said that he could watch him. Once he said that he could watch him, I went online to set-up the payment. Knowing that we were traveling soon and on a time crunch to get a sitter, he waited to cancel instead of being honest during our meet and greet and let me know then that he could not watch our dog. Any company that can not provide dependable service should not be in business. You are better off taking your pet to a PetsMart.

Thumbnail of user bluee1
California
1 review
16 helpful votes
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December 2nd, 2019

One of the worst experience over thanksgiving weekend, the sitter was so assuring we hired her, we have cameras for our own protection, what I saw was so bad I wanted to fly back that same day to kick her out and rescue my poor dogs, we paid her to house sit, she'd show up for 20 minutes, feed the dogs the wrong amount, then leave for 15 hours overnight, then send us pictures that our dogs are so happy where I can see in the camera they were miserable, and she brought her boyfriend in the house despite our instructions that no guests are allowed, gathering more camera clips and will have a lawyer deal with them.

Thumbnail of user lorid631
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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July 4th, 2022

We had a long weekend out of town planned, gave a sitter from Rover.com a try. We have 2 small, low maintenance dogs. The sitter never walked them, left them alone on the first day for 15 hours, and on the next, had her boyfriend at our house without permission. My daughter had to go to our house to get the boyfriend out, when she arrived, both of our dogs were hiding under the table (something they never do). This was the absolute worst experience we have had. Rovers response: well they are private contractors so that's unfortunate that this happened - but no other resolve. This person should have been removed from the platform and she wasn't so this can happen to others again and again.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user terrym928
New Jersey
1 review
4 helpful votes
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August 18th, 2021

I found Ariel looking for a sitter for our pups. We had lots of conversation prior to a pre book visit. As we got to door we asked. We are careful. Ariel is not vaccinated and did not reveal until we asked. Given that COVID can be without symptoms and spread and the people showing up in hospitals are showing up with the newer more deadly and more transmissible I hold BOTH Rover and Ariel responsible for this. We sent her packing.

Tip for consumers:
Rover should remind users to ask about vaccination status especially off there are children or medically compromised people in the home

Products used:
None Rover is a pet sitting business

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user div3
Washington
1 review
10 helpful votes
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January 2nd, 2020

The sitter gave false information to Rover that my dog bite them and broke skin which was completely fabricated and the company suspended my account without giving us a chance to explain outside. Awful humans awful company

Thumbnail of user catherinee277
Canada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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July 1st, 2022

Zero customer service. No response to my emails. They hide behind email and the number they post doesn't work. Super frustrated with this company. Would never ever purchase from them as they took my money, I didn't receive my items and now they are ignoring me. The blocked my email. They actually blocked my email! Worse experience
I've ever had buying a product on line. They stole from me and now are blocking me.

Tip for consumers:
Be warned!!! I would never purchase from this site again.

Products used:
None - didn’t receive them
They have blocked my email!!! Shameful and immature

Service
Thumbnail of user marlob13
Massachusetts
1 review
2 helpful votes
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December 7th, 2021
Verified purchase

I will never use Rover again because my dog eye got infected while under the sitters care. I had to take my dog to the vet due to red, swelling, and itchy eye. The vet ran tests and said that his eye was injured due to something hit his eye or another dog may have scratched him. The sitters do have a small dog so I do believe their dog more than likely scratch my dog eye and were scared to admit it to me when I asked them about it. If I was a pet owner I wouldn't use this app/service. Kick out the money and have professionals keep your pets!

Thumbnail of user annb1912
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 21st, 2023

I confirmed at 9:15am on the day of my reservation to meet with sitter. She agreed to meet dog and get instructions at 12:45. At 9:45 she texted she was too sick ( not sure what happened from 9:15-9:45) but now my dog will be home from 3:00-10:30pm since we are attending our daughter's wedding. I'm sure the sitter will be having a good time as well. Deleting Rover app.

Products used:
No services provided

Service
Thumbnail of user francinef12
Florida
1 review
31 helpful votes
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May 31st, 2019

Due to the negligence of a rover.com sitter my dog died. She let him walk out the front door and neglected to contact us for over 5 hours. She was not licensed to dog sit by the laws of our county but rover.com neglected to make me aware of that. Our puppy was hit by a car several hours later.

Thumbnail of user corinned66
Montana
1 review
2 helpful votes
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September 22nd, 2021

. Ade an appointment a week in advance. She was late and then made excuses. Her boyfriend... blah blah blah. She stated she was texting me as she was driving... then lied and said she was a t a red light. I was hit in my car by an irresponsible jerk like her. Do I want her to sit. Y pets... hell no. I called To er and the agent justified her texting while driving. AVOID Rover.

Tip for consumers:
Dont

Products used:
Not them

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user lindah3095
California
1 review
3 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2021

My dog got sick while spending a weekend with one of their sitters; however, after 3 weeks of stress/blood diarrhea/vomit and $3k in vet bills, Rover claims there's no proof it was their/the sitter's fault b/c they want me to prove a negative. Luckily for me, the sitter confirmed via text he may have eaten something and the vomiting started on the last day of his stay + my dog had just been to a healthy annual physical 2 days prior to going to the sitter.

I'm now taking them to small claims court on the grounds of 'bad faith insurance', a pain in the butt all the way around but confident I will win. Encourage anyone dealing with this to do so too. In other good, news, my dog is now back to healthy and normal

Thumbnail of user jjw30
Michigan
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 19th, 2022

Dogsitter apparently didn't walk dog sufficiently, or as agreed upon, to potty. When we arrived home after several days away, dog was sick with painful unprecidented urinary tract infection and in immediate need of veterinary care and Rx meds. Rover couldn't care less.

Tip for consumers:
Go with a reputable professional boarding kennel or, if possible, a trusted friend or family member.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user chrissyt28
Canada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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November 15th, 2022

Someone who watched my dog, with all rave reviews, ruined my vacation. First morning I got an email, it wasn't working and someone should come get the dog. Why, he barks. What the real problem was that the person ended up having three dogs there, and despite saying they were allowed on furniture and on the bed, would gate them off in a room on there own. Was shocked when I arrived early as she was taking 2 Rover signs off the front lawn. Have no idea if the signs were legit. I think they're used to hustle some business outside the app. Sooo disappointed but worse of all, my bad review is gone! Looks like they may have changed their name slightly on the app and started over…pic is of the same person.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user meganp120
Texas
1 review
13 helpful votes
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February 7th, 2020

The Rover platform works as a host to people who work as pet sitters. They are not a hiring company, and the sitters on the platform do not work for Rover.
However, I know of plenty mishaps with sitters, but it should be known that those mishaps are few and far between. Overall, it is up to the user's discretion who they choose, and it's always recommended to meet sitters beforehand to guarantee expectations are met.

Thumbnail of user christofft
Texas
1 review
9 helpful votes
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April 19th, 2020

So I will start used this for a cat sitter for two days. All they had to do was have someone come in feed my cat and change litter. The first day went perfect only reason they aren't getting one star. Now here is the issue the sitter that get assigned I don't know the system on their end but some how even after they get assigned they can cancel at any time. So when I wake up the next day checking to see if the sitter came. They never showed up Apparently the cancelled last minute and rover couldn't reassign another sitter leaving my cat hanging until I got back home later in the day thank god. Of course he was so hungry when I got home I felt terrible for entrusting him to this app. Never again, I'll just stick to a local service next time.

Thing could of been way worse if it was a longer trip and this happened in the middle.

Thumbnail of user glennw128
Florida
1 review
8 helpful votes
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December 29th, 2019

If you ever need to use a pet sitting service and u live in the lower Florida Key's do not, I repeat do not use Tina S. Of Summerland Key. I paid her $10 per visit plus $10 for an total of 1hr per visit and that was for 3 days at 3 visits minus one the first day. Basically I paid her $120 for 6 1 hr visits well I have security camera's located throughout my property and over the matter of those 6 visits she stayed on avg 14 minutes each time.
I would probably guess this happens to everyone or at least a majority of customers. I know it doesnt take 1 hr to feed, and play with a pet 3 times a day but if u pay for it you should expect it to happen that's the bottom line, no debating it like this moron sitter wanted to.
Just beware even if you use a service like Rover dont expect much it's always better finding someone you know or family for that matter than leaving your fur babies in other peoples hands.

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