Edmund is always conscientious and I feel good that my dog Merlin is in good hands :-)

My review of one (1) star is for this combined review of the pet sitting and house sitting assignments in 2017 and 2018. In May of 2017 Edmund provided both pet and house sitting for me. I did not write a review for that assignment. However, if I did I would have given him five (5) stars and a sterling review based on what seemed to be a great job of taking care of my dog Birdie and the cleanliness of the house upon my return. Several pictures of Birdie on walks had been sent to me as well as several check-ins on how he and Birdie were getting along. In fact I was so pleased with how everything went I gave Edmund a new assignment in in April of this year (2018) slightly over six (6) months ago. Unfortunately, the April 2018 assignment did not go very well. I must give that assignment only one (1) star. If negative stars were available, my entry would be a minus five (-5). Basically, for reasons only known to him, Edmund left the two sided gas fireplace in the family room burning continuously over the first three (3) days of what would have been a 19 day assignment. Consequently, around 11:30 pm on Friday April 13th, either due to a faulty installation of the fireplace twelve (12) years ago or a manufacturing defect, flames escaped from the fireplace resulting in a fire that consumed 80% of the roof structure of the house and the entire covered patio. The fire, smoke, and water damage was so extensive that I will not be returning home for at least six (6) more months. I waited six months to write this review and I remain unsure if I should be posting it. The fireplace could have malfunctioned at anytime. As a heat source these are designed to be operated continuously. My main complaint about Edmund and his last assignment is that he left my house sometime on the evening of April 13th to pickup a friend at the airport and left the fireplace burning while Birdie was left alone. She only escaped from the fire when the responding firemen broke down the front door of the house. Birdie ran away and returned physically uninjured after the firemen left shortly after 3:00 am. Additionally, I am not sure exactly when Edmund returned to the house. But I know it was well after the fire started and that he did not contact me for several hours after I had already spoken the my neighbor and the Fire Chief by cellphone. Further, I do not know why Birdie had access to the entire house when Edmund left. Instructions were for her to have access to the back yard and laundry room when no one was home. My final complaint is that when the firemen entered the house they found substantial quantities of legal dispensary marijuana products on the kitchen counter. When I met with Edmund several days after the fire he confirmed that he was only smoking on the outdoor patio. Rover provided a refund for 17 days of service and when they asked me what I thought of Edmund I replied that I thought he used poor judgement. The bottom line is would I use Rover again? Probably, but certainly not Edmund.