PRESS RELEASE:
The #1 dog walking app rolls out the newest evolution of its Quick Match on-demand feature after successful beta tests in Seattle and San Francisco
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 26, 2017–
Rover.com®, the nation’s largest network of 5-star dog walkers and pet sitters, today announced the launch of a new dog walking technology that enables dog owners to book pet care on-demand or by browsing its network. With this new feature, Rover is the first and only dog walking service that offers customers the option to search and select, or be instantly matched to a certified dog walker for a walk to occur within the hour or at a later time. Rover is the market leader in dog walking with the largest network in the country, consisting of more than 120,000 dog walkers in thousands of cities across the U.S. The launch in Denver is part of the company’s plan for continued expansion of additional dog walking services across the nation.
The new on-demand option, called Quick Match, enables owners to instantly book a dog walker who has been prescreened, completed safety education and passed an enhanced background check. The beta version of the technology successfully launched in Seattle and San Francisco earlier this year. In Denver, Rover is introducing an enhanced model that offers dog owners the option to book pet care the way they want it-by browsing or being instantly matched. This version also allows pet parents to rebook with a matched sitter.
“We’re always trying to make it easier for pet parents to get pet care they can trust-whenever and wherever they need it. Quick Match is yet another way for us to remove the barriers to pet ownership, by instantly connecting dog owners to certified dog walkers. We know some dog owners simply don’t have the time to search for the perfect walker, so we’ve created a set of rigorous review procedures to give pet owners peace of mind,” said Brent Turner, COO for Rover. “We’ve been thrilled with the market reception of our on-demand dog walking product so far and are eager to bring it to pet parents in Portland this October, with more cities launching in the upcoming weeks.”
Fresh off the company’s successful acquisition of DogVacay in March, and the subsequent integration that ended in June, Rover’s dog walking business has experienced rapid acceleration. Thus far in 2017, growth of Rover’s dog walking business in most of the top 20 metropolitan areas has noticeably outpaced the overall business, which itself has tripled revenues from last year. The company completed a $65 million round of funding earlier this year, which Rover is putting to work by making deep investments in its technology and building out the Rover brand, cementing Rover as the household name for dog care.
Rover began offering dog walking services in 2015. Despite being a relatively new entrant to the walking market, the company has already grown to be the most downloaded and best reviewed dog walking app in the nation.
How Quick Match On-Demand Dog Walking Works
The new feature, available on the Rover website and app in select markets, allows pet parents to schedule a walk for their dog within an hour, later today, or every week with a Rover-certified dog walker. Dog owners provide instructions on how the walker should enter the home and information about their dog’s behaviors. Rover also offers free, secure lockboxes to ensure dog owners have a safe option for walkers to access to their home. Pet parents receive an update sent to their phone when the walk starts and stops, as well as a detailed Rover Card that provides a GPS map of the walk, photos, and notes on bathroom breaks.
For more on Quick Match, visit https://www.rover.com/walking/.
About Rover
Rover.com® is the largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers in North America. Serving pet parents across the U.S. and Canada, Rover connects dog owners with trusted pet care whenever they need it. Millions of services have been booked on Rover, including pet sitting, dog walking, in-home dog boarding, and doggy day care.
Founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of a dog, Rover improves and simplifies life for dog people and the pets they love. As The Dog PeopleTM, Rover gives pet parents peace of mind whenever they’re away from their dogs by offering premium insurance, 24/7 support, background checks, vet consultations, GPS walk tracking, and the nation’s #1 pet sitting and dog walking app. And with Daily Treat-one of the nation’s top dog blogs-Rover reaches millions of readers with tips and articles that delight, inform, and enhance the bond between people and their pets.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170926005709/en/
Rover.com
Brandie Gonzales, 888-453-7889
pr@rover.com