It’s Not to Late to Give Dogs the Advantage of Staying in a Home this Holiday Season While Owners Travel With Rover.com’s Help

 
Dog Boarding Service Connects Dog Sitters with Dog Owners for Cozier, Real Home Stays 

SEATTLE (December 14, 2012) The clock is ticking with big holiday travel time nearly here. What to do with man’s best friend while owners travel is a question many procrastinators are asking themselves just about now! Lucky for them there is an easy, affordable solution - it’s Rover.com, the in-home dog care industry leader. Rover.com makes it easier than ever for dog owners to connect with local dog sitters for a more convenient, affordable and friendlier dog boarding experience, even at a time like this.

“The holidays can be incredibly stressful even for the most organized of dog owners. With Rover.com you can find the best home environment stay for your dog that will leave you feeling confident that while your are away, your dog is safe, secure and well loved,” said Aaron Easterly, CEO of Rover.com  “We encourage anyone interested in finding a good home for their dog over the holidays to start now to make arrangements, its never to early to secure the best home away from home for your pooch.”

Since Rover.com launched less than a year ago area, the service has already registered members in over 3,000 cities across America, with thousands of sitters eager to book stays for dogs over the holidays.  After all Rover.com knows that dogs prefer to stay in a real home while their families are away, whether at a sitter's residence or their own. 

Rover.com is very easy to use.  Any dog owner can log onto Rover.com and browse hundreds of local, approved dog sitter profiles to find the best match based on price, experience, and location. Conversely those interested in becoming a dog sitter may apply on the site to be listed.

Highlights
Unparalleled Protection and Peace of Mind While You’re Away:  Rover.com offers 24/7 access to licensed veterinary consultation via Rover.com’s exclusive partnership with VetLIVE.com. This service can help to avoid unnecessary and expensive trips to the vet, or expedite necessary care and attention.

Rover.com provides customer support 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure the best experience for all members. In fact, Rover.com guarantees member satisfaction. The entire team of customer service representatives are fellow dog owners, dog lovers or sitters themselves. They are available from the beginning of the process to the end, answering questions and servicing last minute requests.

Every stay booked on Rover.com is covered by Peace of Mind Protection coverage and a Satisfaction Guarantee. 

Quality Sitters:  All Rover.com sitters must pass through a multi-tiered approval and review process before they are listed on the site.  Badges on sitter profiles identify those members who are trained in dog first aid and CPR, contribute a portion of their dog sitting proceeds to charity, or are members of a professional dog-training or dog-sitting organization. Reviews posted by fellow Rover.com members can also help inform the best choice for your pooch. 

Communication During the Stay:  Rover.com sitters communicate with owners. They can send photos using a Rover.com mobile app, the Rover.com website and email notifications.

Rover.com also enables dog owners to document instructions, dog info such as preferences, vet contact information, etc. This information is always easily available to the sitter during the stay and can be easily updated for future sitters and stays. 

Rover.com is free to join and charges a 15% fee for all transactions booked through the site. With nightly rates typically ranging from $25 - $35, all dog owners can find a sitter to fit their budget. 

About Rover.com

Rover.com, the in-home dog care industry leader, connects dog owners with local dog sitters online to provide real homes when families travel. Rover.com maintains the mission of creating a safe, loving home for dogs even when owners are away by offering an alternative to traditional caged boarding facilities, or family, friends and neighbors who sit in a pinch. Seattle based Rover.com operates in thousands of cities across the U.S. with tens of thousands of members. To learn more visit http:// www.Rover.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RoverDotCom and Twitter @RoverDotCom. 

Holiday pet tips

Holidays can be fun to share with pets, but they are also full of stress, temptation and danger. Follow these tips to keep your holidays full of cheer.

Bows are for presents. A holiday bow around a pet's neck can strangle an animal that catches a paw on it. A much better solution is a snap away collar with a festive seasonal design.

Tails and Treasures. Place fragile and chewable decorations well out of reach. Your treasured holiday displays can be trash with one sweep of an enthusiastic tail.

Indoor Plumbing and Watering Hole: Live trees are a beautiful sight to behold for your territorial dogs. Many male dogs will find your beautiful tree an excellent alternative to relieving themselves outdoors. Both cats and dogs may find the tree water tempting, make sure to use pet friendly preservatives in the tree's water.

The Tree of Temptation. Cats love to pounce on trees. Make yours less interesting by tying it with a clear fishing line to a nearby window. Hang your most valuable and/or breakable ornaments near the top, securely fastened with hooks and further anchored with twist ties or floral wire. The bottom can then be adorned with felt ornaments and candy canes to entertain your cat.

Tinsel Trauma. Avoid using tinsel. Instead use a vinyl garland and specialty lights. They brighten the tree and you won't have to worry about your cat eating them and having digestive problems or choking.

Taper Trouble. If candles are part of your holiday celebration, consider using a holder with a glass that covers the flame. These are preferred because they are less likely to singe the fur. Never leave candles unattended with pets in the room to protect them and your home. With a menorah, place it high on a mantel or on a specially built shelf.

Pet Toys. Be sure your pets have plenty of toys so they are not tempted to play with holiday decorations.
Leftovers and Cookies should be stored or disposed of. Your pet's digestive system can't handle all the goodies, and besides making them sick, it could make a mess of your home. Give them healthy, nutritious canine and feline treats that are appropriate for them.

Plants like poinsettias, holly, amaryllis and mistletoe should be kept out of reach of all your pets. These plants can be harmful, and owners should call a veterinarian immediately if a pet ingests them.

Keep chocolate away from your dogs and cats. Chocolate contains theobromine which can be harmful and sometimes fatal.

Clean salt from streets and sidewalks out of paws. It can be really irritating and drying to the pads.

Change outside water and food dishes to ceramic or plastic. When the temperature drops, pick up your metal bowls. Pet's tongues can freeze to these. If you have outdoor water bowls, check them often and break out the ice. Frozen water does your animals no good.

Stick with your routine. Keep dogs on their normal feeding and walking routine during holiday festivities. If company makes a dog nervous, tuck its crate in an out-of-the-way area like your bedroom to provide a sense of security.

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Holiday Pet Tips

Holidays can be fun to share with pets, but they are also full of stress, temptation and danger. Follow these tips to keep your holidays full of cheer.

Bows are for presents
A holiday bow around a pet's neck can strangle an animal that catches a paw on it. A much better solution is a snap away collar with a festive seasonal design.

Tails and Treasures.
Place fragile and chewable decorations well out of reach. Your treasured holiday displays can be trash with one sweep of an enthusiastic tail.

Indoor Plumbing and Watering Hole
Live trees are a beautiful sight to behold for your territorial dogs. Many male dogs will find your beautiful tree an excellent alternative to relieving themselves outdoors. Both cats and dogs may find the tree water tempting, make sure to use pet friendly preservatives in the tree's water.

The Tree of Temptation
Cats love to pounce on trees. Make yours less interesting by tying it with a clear fishing line to a nearby window. Hang your most valuable and/or breakable ornaments near the top, securely fastened with hooks and further anchored with twist ties or floral wire. The bottom can then be adorned with felt ornaments and candy canes to entertain your cat.

Tinsel Trauma
Avoid using tinsel. Instead use a vinyl garland and specialty lights. They brighten the tree and you won't have to worry about your cat eating them and having digestive problems or choking.

Taper Trouble
If candles are part of your holiday celebration, consider using a holder with a glass that covers the flame. These are preferred because they are less likely to singe the fur. Never leave candles unattended with pets in the room to protect them and your home. With a menorah, place it high on a mantel or on a specially built shelf.

Pet Toys
Be sure your pets have plenty of toys so they are not tempted to play with holiday decorations.

Leftovers and Cookies should be stored or disposed of
Your pet's digestive system can't handle all the goodies, and besides making them sick, it could make a mess of your home. Give them healthy, nutritious canine and feline treats that are appropriate for them.

Plants like poinsettias, holly, amaryllis and mistletoe should be kept out of reach of all your pets. These plants can be harmful, and owners should call a veterinarian immediately if a pet ingests them.

Keep chocolate away from your dogs and cats. Chocolate contains theobromine which can be harmful and sometimes fatal.

Clean salt from streets and sidewalks out of paws. It can be really irritating and drying to the pads.

Change outside water and food dishes to ceramic or plastic.
When the temperature drops, pick up your metal bowls. Pet's tongues can freeze to these. If you have outdoor water bowls, check them often and break out the ice. Frozen water does your animals no good.

Stick with your routine.
Keep dogs on their normal feeding and walking routine during holiday festivities. If company makes a dog nervous, tuck its crate in an out-of-the-way area like your bedroom to provide a sense of security.