I've never met this person or their dog, it's also odd that they're wanting to book such a long stay starting TODAY.
I would not take the dog without a Meet and Greet. Better to pass up business than get into a 19-day long situation with an unsuitable dog.
Sounds like it may be a scam.
There is no way to set up multiple payments on Rover. You could have them pay for the first week, and then set up a new stay that covers the second week, then another stay for the remaining days; however, be ready to be cheated.
This sounds like a common scam that's been going around for both rover and DV sitters. Long stay, odd payment requirements, no lead time. Send them a Not Available message, archive, and move on.
As Carmen said, I never accept a booking without a meet and greet, just to make sure the dog and I are a good fit.
That's terrible, you can never be too careful I guess. I agree that it was sketchy, sometimes I can be a little overly cautious and wonder if I'm overreacting...clearly not! haha. Anyway, I did archive the request in the end. Thanks for weighing in.
Sounds like a scam. Like the others have said. be careful!
It definitely sounds sketchy and may be a scam like Carmen says. It's possible that they are on a very tight budget or are strapped for cash and will be getting paid that week, but that's not your problem. My approach would be to politely inform them that unfortunately Rover doesn't allow them to book a stay without upfront payment for the entirety of the stay. If you really want their business, then you can set up two separate stays, but I would have a plan in case they don't pay you or if they don't show up to get their dog, and maybe check in with Rover ahead of time about what their approach is to people who leave their dog for too long.
Yes, I did consider that option briefly but then I said you know what, this is just too weird. Thanks for the advice, very much appreciated.
How did this turn out?
Thanks for your input. I did end up archiving the request. She was evading all my questions and kept asking me questions without answering any of mine- including whether her dog was up to date on shots and whether she could meet ahead of time. Not worth the risk, especially not for that long.