An Atlanta couple has a warning for anyone who has a pet.
Kaitlin and David, who asked not to use their last name, hired a dog sitter using Rover, a popular dog sitting app, to watch their 3-month-old puppy, Kino.
On their very first day, they said they got a devastating call from the pet sitter saying Kino was dead.
"I feel bad we left her with this person we didn't really know, and we trusted the app," Kaitlin said.
Friends and family weren't available to watch Kino and the puppy was still too young for actual doggy day care. That's why the couple chose to try the app.
"There were 50 or something reviews saying how amazing he was and my fiancé picked him. In his bio, it says he doesn't ever leave them alone," Kaitlin said.
David dropped off the dog that morning. The sitter even sent them a picture, but not long after, David got an urgent message.
"He told me he had been walking other dogs and came back and she either got her head stuck or something along those lines and she had passed," David said.
It's not clear whether it was at the backyard fence or on the porch.
A Rover spokesperson sent WSB-TV a statement saying they're working to support the family:
"As pet parents ourselves, we join Kino’s family in their grief, and we are working to support them. A tragic situation such as this is extremely rare. Following our prompt investigation, we have permanently removed this sitter from the platform."
"I understand accidents happen, but we were told one thing and another thing happened. Obviously, she was left by herself," Kaitlin said.
Kaitlin and David are sharing their story, hoping to inform others who might consider hiring a dog sitter.
"Just be careful and spread the word. I don't want this to happen to anybody else," Kaitlin said.
Kaitlin and David said the sitter didn't try to take Kino to the vet, but they did so immediately and are ordering a necropsy.
As for the sitter, the app does not give his last name or his real number, so we couldn't reach him for comment.
About the Author
