I am new to this website and would just like to know what steps the creators of this website take to ensure that sitters are qualified to do their jobs properly and won't harm, hurt/abuse, or steal my dog. Do sitters have background checks done on them? Do they have to get any type of certifications, etc. What qualifications must they possess to be able to be a sitter?
Rover does perform background checks on prospective sitters. "Checkr (a third-party provider) will confirm information such as your citizenship and social security number as well as your driving record and criminal history. Your credit history and score are not included in the background review."
There are no particular requirements to become a Rover sitter. This is why badges and reviews are so important. You can also request a meet and greet to see how your potential sitter interacts with your dog. Look for a sitter with plenty of 5-star reviews.
Unfortunately there is no way to guarantee that your dog will be in the care of someone wonderful, but that also goes for anywhere you would consider leaving your dog, not just Rover. Although there's no guarantee, there are ways to ensure your dog has the best stay ever - thoroughly read a sitter's profile, look at their badges (including whether they opted for the optional background check, but also whether they care to put effort into their work), read the reviews to see what other people thought of this sitter, and do a meet and greet to get a feel for them as a person and a dog caretaker and ask questions about their style of dog training and management.
Also, see this article by Rover - https://www.rover.com/blog/the-perfec...
Rover does NOT perform background checks on any sitters or require that all sitters undergo them. Sitters elect to have Rover's third-party provider (Checkr) conduct them and must pay for that service. You will see a specific badge next to the listings of those sitters who have undergone that process. The details and a graphic of the badge are here:
https://support.rover.com/hc/en-us/ar...
As for other certifications or qualifications, you will have to read sitter profiles. Some may be vet techs and others may have received certification from pet sitting associations. But none of those things are required to become a Rover sitter. That is why it is important to read the sitters' reviews and meet them personally before booking an engagement.
I started as a Rover sitter in November, and was required to have a background check done. Perhaps the requirement is new with the new services offered (walking, drop-in visits).
Everything in the Help section refers to it as a "voluntary general" background check. This article provides an overview of how sitters are vetted: https://support.rover.com/hc/en-us/articles/202838094-How-do-you-evaluate-sitters-