Over the past year, many sitters on Rover experienced the hardship of losing income. Though COVID-19 is still impacting some pet owners’ ability to travel and go to work, we’re starting to see business pick up. 

We also know many pet parents continue to rely on their sitters, leaving you with questions about how and if you can safely continue booking.

In addition to our COVID-19 Sitter Resources Guide, below are some answers to frequently asked questions to help bring some clarity to our community:

Am I able to book pet care on Rover?

Pet care is available to book on Rover, however local laws and regulations may vary. We encourage you to become familiar with and abide by your local laws and regulations when booking.

Prior to booking services, be sure to review the safety guidelines below.

What can I do to make my Rover services safer during this time?

Staying healthy is of utmost importance. We compiled some tips below to help keep everyone safe during stays and walks on Rover. 

1. Be up front with pet parents about your own safety preferences and include them in your sitter profile.
2. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has, please communicate that to your client prior to booking.
3. Prior to all services, do your best to answer questions virtually. Rover offers several tools to help with this:
   1. Exchange any essential information via Rover messaging.
   2. Coordinate with your clients to utilize video calling, which is rolled out in the iOS Rover app in select locations.Learn more.
   3. Make a voice call using your Rover-generated phone number.
4. We encourage you to have candid conversations with pet owners about the measures you’re taking to protect yourself (and them). Request that they match your safety preferences.
5. We recommend that everyone in the Rover community wash their hands frequently.
6. Keep your interactions short and try to maintain a 6-foot distance.
7. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the recommendations regarding masks for the CDC in advance of a service or meet and greet.
8. Offer to bring your own leash or request that they sanitize their leash before the hand off.
9. Learn more about your state’s health recommendations.

I’m losing income that I normally get from Rover bookings. What resources are available to me?

Some government agencies have expanded their unemployment insurance programs to include independent contractors who work on platforms such as Rover.

We’ll continually monitor updates to these policies in states and provinces across North America and update this page with new information periodically. In the meantime, here are a few resources:

Federal income tax deadline update

Money management tips from personal finance expert Andrea Woroch

Federal resource for sitters on Rover (CARES Act)

What if I’m not comfortable accepting requests right now?

 To help you get the requests you want and avoid the ones you don’t, we encourage you take advantage of these tools that are available to you:

• Away mode: If you don’t want to receive requests for a specific service, away mode will ensure you don’t show up in search results for that service. Set services to away
• Repeat only: If you only want to receive requests from people you’ve booked with before. Set services to repeat
• Calendar: Keep your calendar updated to make sure you’re getting requests for dates you know you’re available. Update my calendar

We encourage you to use discretion when accepting stays and refer to the World Health Organization and local agencies for guidance.

Will my cancelation policy be impacted during the coronavirus pandemic?

Should you choose to cancel a service for reasons of personal safety or legal compliance, know that Rover supports you. To override your cancellation policy for a particular client, just let us know and we can handle the rest.

Should you wish to adjust your cancelation policy for future bookings, you can do so here. To override your cancelation policy for a particular client, please contact Rover Support for the US here and for Canada here.

What do I need to know about pets and COVID-19?

There is limited evidence that COVID-19 can be shared between people and companion animals, and no evidence that companion animals are contributing to the spread of COVID-19.

Update 4/23/20: A new study indicates cats can catch COVID-19. There’s currently no evidence of transmission to humans. The WHO is investigating more closely, and we’ll keep updating as new information becomes available.

For more information please visit our resource hub for the US here and for Canada here.

What if I have a question that isn’t answered here?

We know there is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now and your situation may change rapidly, which is why our 24/7 support team is here to help. Please let us know if you have questions, concerns, or feedback for us by getting in touch here for the US and for Canadahere.