Due to Rover Pet Sitter Negligence, Dachshund Dies From Mastiff Attack
When Denver pet owner Elaine Conoly went on vacation over the Fourth of July, she did not expect to lose her best friend, her pet dachshund, Wally, who was killed by an aggressive mastiff while in the care of a sitter found through popular pet-care service Rover.
According to a GoFundMe campaign soliciting donations for attorney fees, Conoly hired someone to take care of her two dogs for the dates that she would be away. She ended up using Rover, an online service that connects pet owners with animal caregivers. Conoly selected Seonaid H. to be her pet sitter because her Rover profile stated that Seonaid owned one friendly female German shepherd and had a fenced yard, which Conoly thought would be a healthy environment for both of her dogs.
However, Seonaid did not disclose either to Rover or to Conoly that another dog would also be on-site during the stay: a 150-pound mastiff with a history of aggression. Two days into Conoly's trip, she received a message from Seonaid that detailed every pet owner's worst nightmare: Wally had been "killed instantly," according to a vet that examined the dachshund after the attack by the mastiff.
When Conoly's friend went to pick up Conoly's other dog, she questioned Seonaid for details regarding the dog's death. But Seonaid only offered excuses, according to Conoly, shifting blame to "everything and everyone but herself."
Rover did not offer Conoly a much better response, she claims, stating that the company "simply apologized and wished me a good day." Furthermore, Conoly was still charged for the pet sitter fees she had incurred through Rover.
"Wally was my best friend for almost 10 years, and he was to make it for several more but his life was gruesomely taken away due to gross negligence," Conoly said in her GoFundMe campaign. "Rover plasters a ton of false security on their website such as 'guaranteed' and 'verified' and the like, yet when they actually are responsible for your dog being murdered, they simply told me sorry and to carry on with my life. They were not even sure they were going to terminate Seonaid H. as a sitter from their site."
Conoly plans to press charges against Rover, and has retained an attorney to address the "gross negligence" toward Wally. Conoly's GoFundMe campaign is soliciting $1,500 toward her attorney fees. As of the time of publication, the fundraiser has received $300 in donations.
Rover spokesperson Dave Rosenbaum told TPG that, due to ongoing litigation, the company was not at liberty to comment on the investigation itself. However, the company released a statement stating that, "As dog owners ourselves, we are distraught by Wally’s passing and join his family in their grief during this heart-wrenching time. Upon learning of the incident, our trust and safety team immediately opened an investigation, and we remain committed to providing support to the Conoly family. We have deactivated this particular sitter from our platform.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Rover is valued at $970 million after the start-up successfully raised a $155 million round of funding in May 2018. Although the exact number of pet owners who utilize the service is unknown, Rover has more than 200,000 pet caregivers across the United States, according to TechCrunch. On its About Us page, the company boasts "millions of services booked. Thousands of wagging tails in more than 10,000 cities."
"As emotionally exhausting as its been to constantly relive this tragedy and share anything personal on social media, it is my responsibility to help other animal lovers make the best possible choices for their furry loved ones," Conoly said via a public Facebook post. "I do not want Wally's death to be in vain or allow this to happen to anyone else's beloved pets and I hope you will stand beside me in support. Pets are family and their lives do matter."
The incident serves as a reminder for pet owners who travel frequently to verify with their sitter — especially from a service like Rover — the conditions of the service. Will any other dogs be around? Where will your pet be going while in the care of the sitter? Or, if you elect to travel with your pet, keep in mind that there are also best practices to keep your beloved animals safe while traveling.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.