Follow Up On Insurance Post

Sharing a post from last year: Feb 18, 2023: Edition 186

***Warning: SENSITIVE Content*** Follow Up on Insurance Post:

I received a message from a Rover sitter who was upset that I had shared the fact that Rover does NOT provide insurance coverage for their sitters. Even after reading my post, the sitter still believes that they are "insured through Rover", which is undoubtedly being relayed to clients. They reported their love of animals and good reviews.

The first point of contention was that I had said there are "more bad than good" sitters on Rover. This is not something I said. I have no statistical data. Nor do I have the time, energy or desire to delve deeper into the actual count of trustworthy versus criminal sitters on Rover. My statement warned people that they "should be careful when seeking services through Rover, not because there aren't good sitters on there, but because some are bad." I acknowledged the good sitters.

This person told me that I "can get the frauds removed by reporting them". This is inaccurate, as Rover actively and intentionally removes the reviews that report abuse. They then permit these sitters (criminals who abused the dogs) to continue on their platform. New, unsuspecting clients are now leaving their beloved pets in the care of these monsters, as all the great reviews and the "insurance" provided them with a false sense of security. The pet parents felt that they performed their due diligence, and are feeling safe enough to leave their hearts behind. Keith and I fell for this also. This is criminal. Yes, there are many court cases. As humans, as animal lovers, and as consumers of pet services, the public needs to be aware of this horrific information. My love for people and animals is why I'm sharing this. Yes, I'll take the heat. It's more than worth it in order to save lives.

I have spoken with people who have suffered the loss (death) of dogs who were under the care of these sitters. Yes, some of these people are local. It does happen, here and elsewhere. I have read the horror stories on the "My dog was killed by a Rover sitter" group. My heart aches for anyone experiencing this trauma. There are sitters who were called upon to take over when other sitters were abusing the dogs, using drugs in the homes, etc.

The next concern was that I was aiming to harm their business. Absolutely not! I appreciate and respect all people who truly care for animals and the people who love them. We've used Rover sitters. Keith was a Rover sitter, prior to our knowledge regarding the dangers of the platform. We have met spectacular clients and friends through Rover. I never stated that everyone on the site is harmful, etc. I'm simply warning people so that they are armed with the most pertinent information, as knowledge is powerful. I encourage people to protect themselves and their loved ones. If you are a Rover sitter, consider obtaining your own background check and insurance policy. This will set you apart from others, as well as provide peace of mind to your clientele. I would feel safer using your services if you could provide me these assurances.

The next thing I was told was that I should focus on / highlight the positive and ignore the negative. "Instead of only using the nightmare stories maybe lift up the good ones instead." So if someone killed or otherwise abused a dog, I should ignore this fact and instead praise them for the 30 dogs they didn't kill or harm? This is absurd. I do highlight the positive experiences by recommending trusted business within our community.

Another claim was that my intention was only to plug my business. The post they were referring to was on Nextdoor. There isn't a business connection on my profile there like there is on Facebook. I never stated my company name or contact info. I specifically stated that whoever you choose to hire, please be careful. Then I listed my suggestions on how to protect themselves.

I would never go after another business in order to create more jobs/clients for mine. Anyone who has met me can see that I'm motivated by love. This is why I feel the need to inform and protect others, including complete strangers. I have referred clients to our trusted community partners. I have named other businesses for people, with the caveat that I haven't worked with them and cannot recommend them, so they should do further research / vetting. I created a group for business owners to freely advertise their companies and connect with clients. Bend Oregon Pet Services has welcomed pet parents and service providers regardless of what techniques they use / what beliefs they hold. Our team subscribes to positive reinforcement beliefs. We don't use fear or pain to change animal behavior, as we believe that these practices aren't safe, compassionate or necessary. However, not everyone agrees with us. It was a challenging decision for me when creating this group, but in the end I chose to welcome parents and providers with all beliefs to the group. This is an act of love, as I'm saying that my way isn't the only way. I can see outside of myself and understand that people have alternate views, beliefs, etc. It's clearly stated that not everyone shares the same beliefs, and that pet parents need to perform their own research. Also stated is the idea that we all are able to peacefully coexist, be respectful, etc.

In response to this claim from an upset sitter, I offered to assist this person with guidance if they ever chose to open their own pet care business, separate from Rover. This is an act of love, free of charge, to benefit our community. We can use more great sitters. I then updated my post to offer this free assistance to anyone who was interested. Keith and I have always offered people this help. We don't currently have time to volunteer with local non profit organizations, as we're still actively building Sits & Wiggles. However, we continue to offer assistance in other ways. We've volunteered in the past, when we worked less, as our work hours were governed by labor laws.

The Nextdoor post was soon removed, as people would rather not hear of animal harm. I understand this fully, which is why I post the warnings. However, the comfort of our personal bubbles shouldn't keep us from obtaining new knowledge. Yes, I enjoy my bubble. Yet, I prefer the knowledge to the danger. Only with knowledge can we grow, fully enjoy our lives, and arm ourselves in order to minimize danger.

Nakala Matthews, Love Warrior