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Melanie R.

Star Sitter

Chicago, IL

5.0 out of 5 stars
519 reviews
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Services

Melanie can care for

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs

Availability

My schedule is very flexible! I’m open to morning, afternoon, evening and overnight pet visits. I’m also available most weekends. Please note: Initial meet & greets and key pick ups are free of charge. Subsequent bookings that require a key pick up are $15

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
House Sitting Cancellation Policy:

About Melanie R.

Communication

130 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Dog skills

20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I currently don’t own any pets but will treat yours like my own! I have over ten years experience as an acute care nurse which adds to my ability to safely and lovingly care for your pet. Service abilities include: dog walking, dog & cat exercise/play, care of sick or senior pets, administering medication, emptying litter boxes, and other services based on my clients needs.

Information Melanie R. would like to know about your pet

If your dog has any special needs or disabilities. Any behaviors I should be aware about such as not getting along with other dogs, excessive barking, destructive behavior, guarding of food, and nipping or play biting.

A typical day

I love getting the pups I watch up first thing and getting a little exercise with a walk. I provide lots of playtime with various games- fetch being the most popular. After an evening walk I like to snuggle up to the ones who just want someone to lay with and some scritches. I’m always mindful about positive reinforcement with great behavior and following of commands.

Location

Chicago, IL

Melanie R.'s Neighborhood

Melanie R. has Star Sitter status

The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.

Trustworthy petsitter, cats & dogs!

Pet care experience

Hi there! I’m Melanie, a Licensed Vocational nurse from California. When I’m not caring for people, I love to look after animals. I have over twenty years experience as a pet owner and sitter. Family and friends have relied on me to walk, feed, play, and give love to their cats and dogs over the years.

Reviews

Alice H.
House Sitting • Aug 04, 2026
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As always, Melanie has been awesome during her housesitting! Thank you so much

Jane M.
House Sitting • Jul 30, 2026
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Melanie was very detail oriented, organized, and communicative. She took really great care of our two dogs, including managing their medication, routines, and quirks. She responds to messages quickly and sends detailed updates with pictures and videos. We felt very secure in leaving our dogs with her and knew they were very well cared for. Would highly recommend for overnight stays!

Gema R.
Drop-In Visits • Jul 30, 2026
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We had some last minute travel plans and Melanie was able to accommodate us. She did an awesome job with our cats as usual and sent thoughtful updates with lots of photos during her visit! She also left us some cute photos of our kitties on her last day, definitely recommend for you pet sitting needs!

Lauren K.
House Sitting • Jul 27, 2026
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Melanie really went above and beyond to make sure our dog was well cared for while we were gone and I can’t recommend her enough for house sitting!

About Melanie R.

Communication

130 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Dog skills

20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

I currently don’t own any pets but will treat yours like my own! I have over ten years experience as an acute care nurse which adds to my ability to safely and lovingly care for your pet. Service abilities include: dog walking, dog & cat exercise/play, care of sick or senior pets, administering medication, emptying litter boxes, and other services based on my clients needs.

Information Melanie R. would like to know about your pet

If your dog has any special needs or disabilities. Any behaviors I should be aware about such as not getting along with other dogs, excessive barking, destructive behavior, guarding of food, and nipping or play biting.

A typical day

I love getting the pups I watch up first thing and getting a little exercise with a walk. I provide lots of playtime with various games- fetch being the most popular. After an evening walk I like to snuggle up to the ones who just want someone to lay with and some scritches. I’m always mindful about positive reinforcement with great behavior and following of commands.

Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.
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Verified Enhanced Background Check
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Verified Enhanced Background Check

Melanie R.

Star Sitter

Chicago, IL

5.0 out of 5 stars
519 reviews