Should Rover.com Be Taking a Stance on BLM?
Let's stick to pet sitting and stay out of politics. I support both BLM and our local Sheriff's Department in Plumas County.
6 Answers
Racial injustice is rampant in the US, I support Rover for stating their position 
Why not? Haven't most companies/organizations issued similar statements? I am not sure why anybody would take issue. Frankly, when that email blast arrived, I didn't didn't bother reading it only because I rarely read anything Rover sends me, unless I see there's a new service or a change taking place. I ignore contests as well. ;-)
Rover defines its community as "pet parents, sitters, and dog and cat people." I am not exactly sure who the very broad last group is, but there is a wide range of people in the pet parents and sitter world. However, all you have to do is take a look at Rover's Meet the Team page and there is a dearth of POC on that page and in videos/articles showing HQ staff. My advice to Rover is look to putting your own house in order.
So interesting to see your post. I logged in specifically to see if there were any comments to today's email blast.
The message starts out fine. Yeah, I agree racism has no place...
Out of the numerous things sitters & walkers have requested repeatedly of Rover, I don't recall it Ever being correcting racial inequality.
For reference, here's the last sentence of email Rover sent: "We’re committed—collectively and as individuals—to doing this work alongside our community, and to building a more equitable future. "
Comments
I don't believe that last sentence means that sitters and walkers have requested correcting racial inequality.
Well, their message begs the question that Unless the words emailed are meaningless dribble (entirely possible, especially when one views 'Meet the Team'), then what was meant by "building a more equitable future"? How? Then again, most of the email blasts are not beneficial nor helpful.
I guess they have , Because I did. I called After my client made a comment about me being 4 on available list. I guess found that questionable since , my Rover Acct had More Walks and More Reviews. When I called Customer Service , he said “ are you basing recommendations off race? “ was a common
I wasn't going to comment, but I decided what the heck. Here's my view. I respect that Rover is a Corporation who's leadership gets to decide on what the Company supports and how they put out their messages. People at HQ who aren't leadership, sitters, and clients have no say in the matter. That's how it is with all Corporations (I've worked at a few). It's common for a Corporation to take a stand on human rights issues (sorry, BLM is not, and should not, be a Political issue - it's a human rights issue upon which Politicians, like Corporations, can choose to take a stand). A lot of people want to know how a Company, as a whole, views certain issues; they base whether they want to work for them or use their service/product on those beliefs. As a sitter or a client, you have the right to use Rover or not, based on the Company's views, if you wish.
So, should Rover have a stand on Black Lives Matter? Absolutely! If they want, they get to take it. Is a Company wrong for not taking a stand? Nope. It's up to them. Do I get to decide if I want to spend my $$ supporting a Company who's belief's I don't agree with? I sure do! Let me give you a different example. There is a very popular social media site that I completely disagree with their stand on some things. I still use it and at this point am not pulling from it because I don't agree with some of their "public" views. But if I decided that I no longer wanted to be associated with them because of it, that would be my prerogative.
For the record, I support BLM and LGBTQ and Diversity and fair wages and fair treatment of people and animals, etc. But that doesn't matter in relationship to this post.
Be kind to each other, even when your opinions differ. <3
What does this subject have anything to do with dog sitting?
I'm not sure how human rights is a political issue but continue I guess
I agree 100% with puppydad :)
We should never have gotten that email from Rover. I’m not at all fooled by people caring about things when it’s popular to do so. Want me to believe you care about people and anything? Show it ALL the time, not just when it’s trending.
Then why create a post drawing attention to it?
I ( African American ) had To call Rover and Ask. A customer made a off-hand comment about me being 4th on available list , and he commented all 3 white Rover Sitter me had not only less walks , but also less reviews. 😐