For what it’s worth …until last year when I learned about Rover…I took my three dogs to the place they had doggie daycare for boarding. Average was $60 for the first dog and $30 for each additional. That’s $120/night, but we rationalized it included daily daycare. They fed the dogs (but not like I would, doctoring their food up and microwaving it about 15 seconds because I spoil my dogs rotten) and they were in a kennel from roughly 7pm until 6-7am the next morning. No human stayed at the kennel overnight if there was any emergency event or to let dogs out. I hated it…but I thought it was a necessary evil in order for hubby and I to go away. And if we did leave town, it was for a maximum of a couple nights. The dogs always seemed fine (but hungry - found out that if they didn’t eat right that minute, the food bowls were collected until the next meal.) I felt guilty. Daycare is one thing…overnight boarding was another.

Then I randomly got notified of this subreddit in my feed due to Reddit’s weird algorithms…and it’s changed my life. I learned about Rover and downloaded the app and found this lovely retired couple that would watch our dogs IN THEIR HOME and allow them ON THEIR FURNITURE just like we do at home!!! We were invited for a meet and greet, they had a little dog like my three schnauzers and the happy barking and tail wagging was incredible. The resident dog showed my guys the doggie door and they shot through it one at a time and investigated the back yard. They came in and checked out the house, found the water and where their beds were going. My husband and I were invited to sit down and chat and learned we had a lot of same interests as retirees besides our dogs. We booked them and the cost was not even a consideration. They sent pictures and updated several times a day, even made a video when we got home (which was hilarious) of the committee meetings the 4 dogs had to decide who went through the doggie door first. They went to bed as we did and reported they heard when one went out to go potty by themselves then went back to bed after getting a drink. They ate and got treats and nighty night hugs just like we gave our boys. The dogs were comfortable-as we were. An added bonus, it turns out this couple live about a mile from our house!

Bottom line: THANK you, Reddit algorithms for hooking me up with Rover. And THANK YOU, Rover sitters, for taking care of our family members. Your fees are (to me) priceless compared to boarding at a kennel. I'm now looking at a vacation next year and before I will even look at airfare or hotels…I gotta check and see if my Rover sitters are available!

I know there are shady sitters and shady owners and we really lucked out in finding this couple, but from reading the posts here, most of you are in this because you love animals and want to care for them as we parents do. THANK YOU!!!