Heather Pierucki loves spending quality time with her dogs, Mali, Peanut and Brutus.
She and her husband, Tommy, decided to expand their Kalihi Valley home to accommodate other furry friends by offering in-home, dog-sitting services through the website Rover.com, an alternative to conventional boarding kennels.
The arrangement allows the Pieruckis to earn extra income by looking after other people’s pooches in their own home, and pet owners seeking a dog sitter can usually find one in their own neighborhood.
"It’s a win-win," said Heather Pierucki, 35.
The Seattle-based Rover.com, which launched in November 2011, describes itself as "a national network of dog lovers for hire." In Hawaii, 831 dog owners and 300 pet sitters have signed up. Websites offering similar services in Hawaii include DogVacay and PetSitter.com.
On Rover.com, dog owners can browse sitter profiles that include photos of their homes and information on the sitter’s own dogs, and the size and breed of dog the sitter will accept. Sitters set their own fees, which typically range from $25 to $40 per day and include pet insurance for emergency veterinary care. The sitters pay 15 percent of their fees to the website.
Traditional boarding facilities charge similar rates, but dogs may not get the personalized attention they receive from in-home care, according to Brandie Gonzales, director of communications for Rover.com. "We are trying to find the best match possible," she said.
Rover.com was established after founder Greg Gottesman’s dog, Ruby Tuesday, was injured at a high-end boarding facility in Seattle. "The service just keeps getting more popular," Gonzales said.
Sitters don’t need to have a dog to be a sitter for the website, and some sitters will watch pets in the owner’s home. Gonzales said the arrangement allows dog lovers who can’t have pets at home to interact with the animals according to their schedule and circumstances.
"Many people don’t own a dog because they travel too much, work long hours or dogs aren’t allowed in the home. Anyone who wants the companionship of a dog in their life can have that with the service," she said.
One of the Pieruckis’ conditions is that the guest dogs get along with their own pups. Rover.com recommends a meet-and-greet for both the owners and dogs to gauge compatibility.
"We bring the dogs to a neutral ground to see how they interact with each other," Heather Pierucki said. "Then it’s a mutual decision."
The Pieruckis have flexible work hours and regularly work from home. She is a therapist and he’s in marketing.
Robyn McCarthy found the couple’s profile on Rover.com last summer when she was looking for someone to watch her mixed-breed dog, Koa, a rescue from the Hawaiian Humane Society. She said she preferred sending Koa to someone else’s home instead of having a pet sitter stay at her place while she was gone. McCarthy is a last-minute packer and didn’t want to worry about cleaning her house for a sitter.
"Heather was quick to respond and eager to answer all of my questions," she said.
When at the Pieruckis’ house, visiting dogs are able to make themselves at home and lounge on the furniture. And there’s no lack of activity.
"We have a fenced-in backyard so there’s plenty of space for the dogs," Heather Pierucki said.
They chronicle each dog’s stay with photos, videos and daily updates.
"And we hike, go to the beach and go to the dog park with each visitor. I think it really helps to calm any anxiety owners may have leaving their pups for vacation."
