Online pet sitting connection service provides alternate to neighbor's kid
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- A father-daughter idea may change how you find a pet sitter in the new online service Rover.com.
For many, finding a sitter for their dog is more difficult than it is for their kids. Enter Aaron Easterly, an extreme dog lover who happens to be the CEO of Rover.com -- an upstart online pet sitting connection service and an alternative to the neighbor's son.
"As an executive for years at a certain point I felt pretty guilty about going back to the same neighbor every time I had a business trip pop up," Easterly said.
Rover.com started when Seattle investor Greg Gottesman had an unpleasant kennel experience with his own dog.
"Just to pet the dog would cost extra at these kennels, so the whole experience was negative," he said.
When his 9-year-old daughter said she would have paid to take care of someone's else's dog, Gottesman saw a business.
"I pitched this concept that there's someone right down the street that would love to take you dog, would do it for less money, it would be a better experience for the dog, better for you," Easterly said.
Rover.com taps into the notion that dogs are family members too and need to stay with people who think the same way.
You can locate a host and pay the nightly rate online. Hosts set the price -- usually $15-$50 a night, and it includes insurance, 24/7 vet consultations and a possible music video of your dog's stay.
So who can be a pet sitter? Well, Rover.com says they only accept 10 percent of those that apply and they rating system has an interesting twist: only allowing paying customers to rate the sitters. That weeds out non-users.
"And we are constantly looking at behavior to make an assessment on whether or not that person deserves to stay in Rover," Easterly said.
Rover.com now boasts over 10,000 hosts nationwide with nearly 1,000 in the Puget Sound area.
For many, finding a sitter for their dog is more difficult than it is for their kids. Enter Aaron Easterly, an extreme dog lover who happens to be the CEO of Rover.com -- an upstart online pet sitting connection service and an alternative to the neighbor's son.
"As an executive for years at a certain point I felt pretty guilty about going back to the same neighbor every time I had a business trip pop up," Easterly said.
Rover.com started when Seattle investor Greg Gottesman had an unpleasant kennel experience with his own dog.
"Just to pet the dog would cost extra at these kennels, so the whole experience was negative," he said.
When his 9-year-old daughter said she would have paid to take care of someone's else's dog, Gottesman saw a business.
"I pitched this concept that there's someone right down the street that would love to take you dog, would do it for less money, it would be a better experience for the dog, better for you," Easterly said.
Rover.com taps into the notion that dogs are family members too and need to stay with people who think the same way.
You can locate a host and pay the nightly rate online. Hosts set the price -- usually $15-$50 a night, and it includes insurance, 24/7 vet consultations and a possible music video of your dog's stay.
So who can be a pet sitter? Well, Rover.com says they only accept 10 percent of those that apply and they rating system has an interesting twist: only allowing paying customers to rate the sitters. That weeds out non-users.
"And we are constantly looking at behavior to make an assessment on whether or not that person deserves to stay in Rover," Easterly said.
Rover.com now boasts over 10,000 hosts nationwide with nearly 1,000 in the Puget Sound area.
This company only provides dog sitting? Cat-sitters are very hard to find. Our cat-sitter comes from an hour away because we can't find anyone as good that is closer. ROVER.COM will you PLEASE consider providing cat-sitting services too. I wanted to apply until I saw its dogs only.
@RoverDotCom - Just watched it! Way to go you guys! It's so great to see another local startup taking off!
That is fantastic! I was just thinking about how great my husband would be at something like this. He loves dogs and we have a ton of fenced-in space. Awesome! Going to apply now!
What a great idea! It would be nice to be able to see reviews from people who've used the service and find a local place for our pooch in the rare event we're gone.
How much you wanna bet he screws the daughter out of any profit in the company??Â
Hooray, my friend's business is on the list!
LOL, that dog sure doesn't look sure about the whole thing. Â You probably couldn't find a funnier picture than that.
@Doxie Dog is thinking, "Oooooooookay, um, whatever. Mommy and Daddy wouldn't just ditch me with wackos, would they? They'll be back. They have to."
@DoxieÂ
I've been owned by pugs off and on for over 25 years. That is definitely a pug, "WTF," look. That's the kind of look my little guy gives me when he knows his eye drops are coming.
@Howard Beale @Doxie That's funny!
@Howard Beale @Doxie Cats usually own me, especially the current one taking over the place, but that look is universal across the furry kingdom.Â
A seasoned pet roommate secured the doors (and windows) before reaching for the insulin or the eye drops. :DÂ
@MargeGunderson @Howard Beale @Doxie We had a diabetic cat too, but he never even flinched during his injections.  So I thought it was no big deal until I accidentally jabbed myself with that little needle.  Ouch!  How do you season a pet roomate?  Just kidding!
@MargeGunderson @Howard Beale @Doxie dogs have owners. Cats have staff. another thing I've learned from my cats and dogs over the years-my dogs think I'm the supreme ruler of the universe. My cats think I'm just the hired help. And To be treated as such.