Natalie Jones says she came home from a trip abroad in early July, checked her home cameras, and believed she was watching two kinds of violations at once: her dogs being mistreated and her belongings being removed. Her account is unsettling on its own, but it is also a useful reminder that handing someone access to your pets and your house calls for more than a quick scroll through ratings.
Jones, an Englewood woman, said this was her first time using Rover. She chose sitter Sara Bettencourt after seeing 39 recent reviews and meeting her in person. Jones said Bettencourt appeared qualified because she was presented as a vet tech and as the owner of a dog grooming and nail trimming business. Jones left Bettencourt in charge of her dogs, Harry and Buddy.
After returning, Jones said she reviewed home-camera recordings and saw her dogs being mistreated. She said one of her larger dogs would approach the sitter to greet her and was screamed at, kicked, and pushed away. Jones also said the dogs were neglected during the stay and that they have not been the same since.
According to an arrest report, Bettencourt and another person were seen carrying trash bags filled with Jones’ belongings and loading them into a car before leaving the home. Jones also alleged that the pair went through cabinets and the refrigerator. Bettencourt was arrested by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office on a grand theft charge and has since been released.
Rover said the sitter’s account was deactivated without the option to appeal. The company also said it refunded Jones’ stay and offered to cover house-cleaning costs. In Rover’s words, “The safety of our community is a top priority and we take allegations of theft, illicit drug use, and animal mistreatment extremely seriously.” Rover also said all sitters joining the platform must pass an enhanced background check through a third-party provider.
Jones’ advice was blunt: “My best advice to someone is get a picture of their ID and get a camera. If they won’t agree to those two things, they’re not the sitter for you,” she said.
That does not mean every in-home sitter is risky, or that one platform tells the whole story. It does mean reviews, a polished profile, and even an in-person meeting are only part of a safer hiring process.
A practical checklist before you hand over keys
Start with the kind of care your dog actually needs. Merck Animal Health advises owners to think through whether a pet needs overnight company, drop-in visits, walks, or a different setup entirely. That matters because an anxious dog, a senior, or a dog with a very fixed routine may not cope the same way with a new person in the house.
Then do the meet-and-greet, but treat it like a real interview. Pet Sitters International recommends an in-home meeting so you can watch how the sitter interacts with your dog, review services and policies, and ask practical questions. A warm hello from your dog is nice, but it should not replace specifics like who will enter the home, whether anyone else may come along, and what happens if the sitter cannot complete a visit.
It is also reasonable to verify identity and set boundaries clearly. Jones now recommends getting a photo of a sitter’s ID and using cameras in the home. For many owners, the bigger point is layered safeguards: limited access to only the parts of the house the sitter needs, written care instructions, emergency contacts, and a clear agreement about whether anyone besides the booked sitter may enter the home.
If you book through Rover, use the platform in a way that preserves its dispute process. Rover’s Help Center says problems with a booked stay or walk must be reported to Rover Support within 28 days after the stay or walk ends, and the booking must have been made and paid for through Rover for review. That is not a guarantee against harm, but it does affect what help may be available later.
Background checks matter, but they are only one filter. Rover says sitters must pass an enhanced background check, and its Help Center also notes that background checks are only part of the profile review process. For pet owners, the practical takeaway is simple: screening helps, but it does not replace direct vetting, home-access limits, and documentation.
What to watch for in your dog afterward
Jones said her dogs have not been the same since the stay. Owners in that position may want to watch for behavior changes without assuming every change means the same thing. VCA Hospitals notes that stress in dogs can show up as pacing, shaking, whining, barking, panting, yawning, lip licking, hiding, avoidance, changes in posture, or gastrointestinal upset. Some dogs get clingier; others become more withdrawn.
For dogs that have had a frightening experience, stress can also build across multiple triggers. Dogs Trust explains that “trigger stacking” can leave a dog less able to cope if several stressful events happen close together. In everyday life, that can look like a dog who seems fine at first but reacts more strongly later to visitors, handling, loud sounds, or being left alone.
And in more serious cases, trauma-related symptoms can linger. Texas A&M veterinary guidance says dogs may show chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, avoidance of certain people or situations, sleep disturbances, fear of being alone, decreased interest in favorite activities, or aggression after trauma. If your dog seems distressed, fearful, or behaviorally different after a sitter stay, it is wise to contact your veterinarian for guidance.
The sobering lesson here is not that owners should never trust a sitter. It is that trust works better when it is backed by systems: an interview, identity verification, written expectations, limited home access, documentation, and a plan for what to do if something feels off. Good reviews may tell you something useful, but they should not be the only thing standing between your dog, your home, and a bad outcome. Does this sound like your dog’s personality, or did they surprise you completely? Tell us in the comments.
By Nora Patel — Former shelter adoption counselor and canine-behavior writer who helps families match dog traits with real home routines.
