The amazing pet sitters and dog walkers on Rover are at the heart of all we do, and we’re excited to feature some of them in an ongoing “Meet The Dog People” series. First up is Melissa G. of West New York, New Jersey, who got started pet sitting thanks to her active rescue dog.
Melissa, who lives in West New York (which is in New Jersey!), started using Rover part-time because of her puppy. Cairo is a rescue dog who was abused and needed the socialization—so Melissa decided to give Rover a try. She says, “I wanted her to have buddies to play with on the weekends.”
“It made me so happy to see dogs and their parents ecstatic with my care.”
Once Melissa got started pet sitting, she never stopped. “It turned into a full-time passion,” Melissa says. “The transition was simple. It made me so happy to see dogs and their parents ecstatic with my care. I wanted to enjoy that feeling all the time. Best. Decision. Ever.”
Melissa comes from a family of dog lovers. She jokes, “my mom referred to our dog as my little brother.” The best thing about dogs, she says, is their unconditional love. “They forgive, they play, and can turn any bad day around.”
Melissa calls her dog Cairo her “child,” and adds that she offers “that same kind of love to each dog that comes into my home.”
She knows it’s difficult to leave your dog with a stranger, which is why she takes her time to get to know her clients during and after the initial meet-and-greet. While they’re away, she sends plenty of picture and video updates, too.
One of the perks at Melissa’s place? She’s a 5-minute walk from a beautiful dog park. She says, “so the party never ends.”
She loves the freedom of running her own business through Rover, and has been able to turn it into a full-time pursuit. She’s proud of the friendships she’s formed with her human and canine clients.
Why dogs? It’s simple, Melissa says. “All they want is your love in return. What more can a person ask for?”
