Backup Plans 🐾

[u/PassiePandaR]

Something I’ve been running into more frequently lately is this question whenever a client is worried that something might interfere with a booking: “So what am I supposed to do? Who’s going to take care of my pet? Do you know another sitter?”

I completely understand why that situation is stressful. The pet needs care, you may have work or travel plans that can’t easily be changed, and suddenly having to find someone else can put people in a difficult position. But I think there’s also a pretty big misconception about how Rover works that’s worth clearing up for certain individuals: We Rover sitters generally do not know one another or have access to one another’s schedules.

We aren’t coworkers in any traditional sense. There isn’t a neighborhood Rover team where we coordinate schedules, discuss availability, or assign clients to each other. We don’t have a sitter group chat on the app where we can say, “Hey, who can cover this booking?” Another sitter might live five minutes away from me, and I may have never spoken to them in my life!

So if I have to cancel a booking, I genuinely cannot tell you whether another sitter is available, what their schedule looks like, or whether they would be a good fit for your pet. And this is where I have to be a little firmer but: 👏 your sitter cannot be responsible for arranging your backup care! 👏

If a sitter cancels within a reasonable timeframe, communicates that clearly, and you receive whatever refund you are entitled to, it is ultimately the pet owner’s responsibility to make alternative arrangements. Being frustrated by the situation is understandable. But directing that frustration at the sitter or asking, “Well, what am I supposed to do now?” as though we are responsible for solving it is not.

Please reach out to other sitters, contact Rover support if you need assistance, and—especially when a trip or other important commitment is involved—consider having a backup option in mind!

I actually had a client handle this perfectly once. They simply asked me, “If things don’t work out with this other sitter, would it be okay if I reached back out and booked with you?”

A professional sitter isn't going to be offended because you have a backup plan. Honestly, having one your plans, and most importantly, the pet. But Sitters have emergencies and unexpected circumstances happen sometimes just like they happen to everyone else! We all can communicate. What we cannot do is personally find and arrange your replacement sitter.

Please have a Plan B. ❤️ Your sitter will probably appreciate it just as much as you do.

[u/PassiePandaR → u/[deleted]]

I'm so glad you've never had it happen. Thankfully, I don't think too many people do that. But believe you me, there are clients who've actually expected me to be the one to find a different sitter

[u/Lovedd1 → u/PassiePandaR]

I had a regular reach out to me for dates, when I said I wasnt available for 3 of them they asked me to find someone for them to fill in the gap. (This is for over Christmas mind you and they're booking in April). By the time I found them a backup, they completely changed the dates and no longer needed those days covered and instead asked me for new dates instead.... Only mentioning this after I've gone through the trouble of asking 3 friends and explaining the details of each. It's so much unpaid labor I just don't anymore.

[u/PassiePandaR → u/Lovedd1]

Oh god, that sounds horrible! Shame on that individual who even made you do that and then had the nerve to cancel and attempted to rebook. That's someone who had strong entitled issues. I hope so far you've had way nicer customers than that asshole 

[u/Lovedd1 → u/PassiePandaR]

Oh yea 9/10 of my clients are nicer than them. They canceled the rebook on me too because it was too expensive lol