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Melissa D.

5.0 out of 5 stars
9 repeat clients
Profile image

Melissa D.

5.0 out of 5 stars
9 repeat clients

Contact for Boarding

from $38 per night

Highlights

Melissa has Star Sitter status!
Enhanced background check
20 years of experience
Has a fenced yard
Home full time
Can administer medication

Pet care experience

Dog’s Home Away From Home w Sunroom

I provide loving, attentive care for dogs in the Sioux Falls area and have years of experience caring for my family’s and relatives’ dogs while they’re on vacation. Your pup will be treated like part of the family in a safe, comfortable home environment. My home features a fully fenced backyard, upper and lower living levels, and one of my favorite (and most dogs’ favorite!) features—a full glass sunroom that overlooks the backyard. It’s the perfect spot for dogs to relax, soak up the sun, and keep an eye out for rabbits and other wildlife. I have a 1.5-year-old chiweenie named Copper who is very active, friendly, and gets along well with all dogs. Before Copper, I had my chug, Kewley, for 16.5 wonderful years, so I’m experienced with dogs of all ages. Copper is crate trained and is crated during short outings like when I attend church. Weather permitting, we go on daily walks, and your dog will be welcome to join us! For long term stays, we may also enjoy visiting small dog parks almost daily to burn off energy and have fun. My goal is to make every dog feel safe, loved, and right at home while you’re away.

Qualifications

9 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
31 ratings
Celine A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jul 20, 2026

Melissa was so accommodating to Hanks stay when my plans changed and I had to extend his stay. I greatly appreciate knowing where my dog goes, how he is doing and Melissa being so KIND to request a later stay. She is truly my favorite sitter for my smaller animal!!! And Hank is always WORN out when he gets home!!!

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Lana H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jul 19, 2026

Gracie loved being at Melissa’s house and i loved all of Melissa’s pictures and updates of Gracie!

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Caleb P.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jul 19, 2026

Melissa was great with Sylvie, and very good with communication and updates. Highly recommended.

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Duncan T.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doggy Day Care • Jul 18, 2026

We had a great experience! Melissa watched our dog for a few hours, and everything went smoothly. Communication was easy, she was friendly and reliable, and our dog was well cared for.

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Shelly W.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jul 12, 2026

Melissa is wonderful!

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Eddie M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jun 30, 2026

Melissa was wonderfully

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Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
SMTWTFS

Schedule

I work from home full-time, so pets get plenty of attention, regular potty breaks, and companionship throughout the day. Weather permitting we will go on walks and possibly the dog park if all parties are ok with that. I will send daily pics/videos throughout the stay. Some photos may be consider professional portraits :)

Where your pet will stay

Home characteristics

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

Safety, trust & environment

I live alone with my ChiWeenie Copper as mentioned. My neighborhood is full of dogs and the people are friendly. Overall, it is a quiet neighborhood on a quiet street. Pets can be crated at anytime if owner prefers. I plan on not having more than 3-4 dogs at a time. Small-Medium size dogs only.

Pets

A typical day

We play a lot of fetch with balls and sticks. Toys are scattered throughout the house! With owner permission, we may go on some drives to the dog park, lakes, etc. Dogs will be on a leash unless there is a fence.

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
No females in heat
Melissa can host up to 4 pets per night
Please let me know if your dog has any allergies, or takes any medications. I had a senior dog who took a lot of meds, so I do have some experience with that.
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.