Keep Your Friends Close

and Your Enemies Closer...

There’s a saying I’ve always found fascinating: “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

For a long time, I wanted nothing to do with Rover. Like many pet care professionals, I was frustrated by how the platform undervalues the real trust, communication, and accountability that goes into caring for someone’s pets. I originally deleted my Rover profile back in 2015 because, at the time, I felt the platform’s priorities didn’t fully align with my own values around pet safety and individualized care. From my perspective, Rover seemed more focused on growth and convenience than on the deeper commitment to safety and trust that I believe every pet and owner deserves.

But nearly ten years later, I started to see things differently. I realized something important: the pet parents using Rover are not the enemy. They’re loving pet owners just trying to find someone they can trust. The real challenge isn’t the platform—it’s how people use it, and whether they know what to look for.

So instead of staying on the outside, I decided to meet the community where it already is. I am now accepting boarding requests on Rover’s platform—not because I need the exposure, but because I want to raise the standard from within the system.

By being on the platform, I can help encourage pet owners to:

• Do genuine background checks beyond the default Rover vetting.

• Ask thoughtful questions about care experience, safety, and environment.

• Recognize what trustworthy, professional care looks like.

I see this as a quiet act of influence—if people are going to use Rover anyway, I’d rather help them have a better, safer experience there. Sometimes, keeping your “enemies” closer isn’t about compromise; it’s about opportunity.

And if you’ve ever enjoyed my services, I’d be so grateful if you’d take a minute to leave a testimonial for me on Rover. It helps potential clients make informed decisions, and it gives me a chance to represent responsible, professional pet care within the platform.

Sometimes the best way to make a space better is to step into it—one wagging tail at a time. 🐾