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Rich V.

Star Sitter

Austin, TX

4.9 out of 5 stars
64 reviews
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Services

Rich can host

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old
Takes only 1 client at a time

Rich can care for

Cats
0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs

Availability

Being essentially retired, my schedule is fairly open. I do care for my elderly neighbor twice a day by visiting him and making sure he takes his meds, but I can pass that off to another neighbor for a bit when necessary.

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Boarding Cancellation Policy:

About Rich V.

Communication

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

Skills

20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
Senior dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

My dog passed about 9 months ago, so my house if fully dog-friendly. There are no other animals for your pet to play with, but if yours tends to get cranky with other animals, maybe that's a good thing. I miss my furry girl, so I can tell you your pet would get plenty of attention. Unless they tell me in dog that they just want to chill, I can be cool and aloof with them if they request it (with some effort) :)

Home

Lives in a house
Has an unfenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs not allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

Information Rich V. would like to know about your pet

There are a lot of things that are helpful to know ahead of time, some more important than others. Critical info; are they a flight risk? Do I need to be prepared to play goalie every time I open the door? Do they have any allergies? Less critical but still helpful, things like what's their favorite activity? Do they love having their belly scratched, or do they hate it? Are they prone to snapping? Do they take to new people quickly, or will they be initially distrustful?

A typical day

I tend to tailor the activities to the specific animal ... do they love to play fetch? Chase? Tug-of-war? Maybe they go nuts for long walks, it all depends on the what they dig. Get it? Dig? Alright, I'll stop.

Location

Austin, TX

Rich V.'s Neighborhood

Rich V. 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.

Animal lover fluent in Dogspeak

Pet care experience

I've had numerous dogs throughout my life, and always enjoy caring for and playing with my friends/neighbors' dogs when they are out of town or whatever. I naturally tend to engage with the pet by playing with them, petting them and talking to them in Dog, which is occasionally confusing to them but always entertaining, both to me and them in my experience. I also speak Cat, but I'm not quite as fluent with that one.

Reviews

Caroline P.
Boarding • mar 03, 2026
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It takes a minute for Chester to get comfortable. Rich is very patient and accommodating. We will definitely be a repeat client!

Stephen M.
Boarding • sty 02, 2026
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Rich did a great job watching our Maya. His place is dog friendly and he followed all instructions for our dog. We would use him again if needed.

Noore S.
Boarding • paź 17, 2025
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Rich is awesome!

B M.
Boarding • wrz 30, 2025
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Rich is the best sitter I keep coming back to. My dog is an escape artist that causes trouble when she does. I have peace of mind every time I drop her at Rich's.

About Rich V.

Communication

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

Skills

20 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
Senior dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

My dog passed about 9 months ago, so my house if fully dog-friendly. There are no other animals for your pet to play with, but if yours tends to get cranky with other animals, maybe that's a good thing. I miss my furry girl, so I can tell you your pet would get plenty of attention. Unless they tell me in dog that they just want to chill, I can be cool and aloof with them if they request it (with some effort) :)

Home

Lives in a house
Has an unfenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs not allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

Information Rich V. would like to know about your pet

There are a lot of things that are helpful to know ahead of time, some more important than others. Critical info; are they a flight risk? Do I need to be prepared to play goalie every time I open the door? Do they have any allergies? Less critical but still helpful, things like what's their favorite activity? Do they love having their belly scratched, or do they hate it? Are they prone to snapping? Do they take to new people quickly, or will they be initially distrustful?

A typical day

I tend to tailor the activities to the specific animal ... do they love to play fetch? Chase? Tug-of-war? Maybe they go nuts for long walks, it all depends on the what they dig. Get it? Dig? Alright, I'll stop.

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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Rich V.

Star Sitter

Austin, TX

4.9 out of 5 stars
64 reviews