SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rover.com, the nation's largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, today introduced new technology into its mobile apps, enabling its sitters to provide unmatched transparency and peace of mind to their clients. This new feature allows pet sitters and dog walkers to easily track and share information with owners, including when they arrived at the home, a GPS map of the dog’s walk, a personal message from the sitter, photos of the dog while in their care, and notes of any bathroom breaks along the way. The data is bundled up in a report card called a “Rover Card,” which is delivered to the owner immediately after the dog is safely back in their home. The release of this app marks the first large scale deployment of this type of technology, with Rover’s dog walkers and sitters now spanning 6,000 U.S. cities.
“We’re incredibly excited to launch this new technology nationwide,” said Rover CEO, Aaron Easterly. “For pet sitters and walkers, the new Rover app makes their jobs easier by combining communication, scheduling, payment, and Rover Cards into the same experience. The response from dog walkers who tested Rover Cards during the beta period has been overwhelmingly positive. By allowing sitters and walkers to capture this data and share it with their clients in an automated and intuitive way, they’re able to focus less on the technology and more on taking great care of the dogs they’re watching.”
Rover is also unveiling the results of its inaugural “Rover Trends Report: Dog Ownership Across America.” This national study reveals key findings showing just how much pet owners truly love their animals, including:
- 65% of U.S. dog owners take more pictures of their dog than of their significant other or friends
- 46% of dog owners are more likely to complain to their dog than a friend
- 65% of dog owners got their most recent dog for companionship
Additionally, the study reveals that dog walking, care, and their pets’ well-being is top of mind:
- 51% of dog owners believe it’s harder to find the perfect dog walker than it is to find the perfect spouse
- 83% of U.S. dog owners have worried that their dog walker has “cut corners”
- 1 in 4 dog owners aren’t sure a dog walker they hired even walked their dog
- 55% of dog owners believe their dogs get less than 45 minutes of physical exercise per day
“Our Rover Trends Report revealed that pet parents are still looking for better ways to ensure their dog’s needs are being met,” said Rover CEO, Aaron Easterly. “Our new app is a major step in that direction. With it, there is now unprecedented transparency between pet parents and the sitters providing their dog’s care. This direct line of communication eases owners' minds. They always know their dog is safe, happy, and getting exceptional care.”
Rover, now five years old, hit an incredible milestone and another industry first this year by surpassing an annual run rate of $100 million. Rover has members in more than 10,000 cities, and its network of sitters has grown more than 50% year over year, now boasting over 65,000 sitters offering a combined 175,000+ services. The release of the new Rover app further solidifies Rover’s position as leader in the digital dog care market.
The Rover app with Rover Cards is now available for iOS and Android devices. For more information, visit www.rover.com/dog-walking/.
About Rover
Rover.com connects pet parents with the nation’s
largest network of loving and trustworthy pet sitters and dog walkers.
Through Rover, pet parents can discover, book, and manage personalized
care for their dogs, including in-home dog boarding, pet sitting, dog
walking, and doggy day care. Founded on the belief that everyone should
have the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of a dog,
Rover improves and simplifies life for pet parents and the dogs they
love. By removing common pet care obstacles, Rover ensures dogs
nationwide are happy and well-cared for even when their owner is away
and empowers dog lovers to live fulfilling lives. Services are booked
through Rover every minute of every day, and more than 92% of the
population lives within a short drive of one of the more than 65,000
sitters who’ve listed their services. Over 95% of reviewed bookings have
received a perfect 5-star rating. The platform offers premium insurance
for all services booked through Rover, secure online payments,
world-class customer support, vet consultations, a 24/7 team of trust
and safety experts, Rover Cards with walk mapping and activity tracking,
mobile apps, photo and video sharing, and general background checks for
sitters.
About the Survey
The Rover Dog Walkers Survey was conducted
by Wakefield
Research among 500 U.S. adult dog owners who have hired dog walkers,
plus 200 U.S. adult dog owners who have hired dog walkers in each of the
following DMAs: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia and Boston, between August 5th and 12th,
2016, using an email invitation and an online survey. The margin of
error for the national data is +/- 4.4%. The margin of error for the DMA
data is +/- 6.9%.
The Rover Dog Ownership Trends Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. adult dog owners between April 16th and April 23rd, 2016, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
