In theory, dog-sitting services like Rover seem like a good idea, but the growing number of horror stories is making dog lovers more wary. Even if you find a babysitter through a background check app, it’s still a good idea to learn about the person and their home before leaving your dogs behind. Sadly, two German Shepherds in North Carolina have become Rover’s latest victims.
Nala and Jager were left with a woman who ran a boarding and dog walking business through Rover. However, the woman did not provide basic care for the dogs. Both dogs died within days, and the police realized the situation was worse than they thought.
Sitter Lets Dogs Die
Pamala Lynn Rodriguez is expected to take care of Nala and Jager when they pass away. Two German Shepherds were in her care for five days before Rodriguez noticed any problems. And by then, it was too late.
Rodriguez finds Nala dead in her crate, and just hours later, she finds Jager in a coma. She took Jager to the emergency vet, but he died there.
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The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office of Animal Services ordered necropsy for both dogs. Autopsies revealed the dogs died from dehydration and extreme starvation. So the officers came to investigate where the dogs were kept.
New Hanover Sheriff Ed McMahon said: “Before you let anyone see your pets, make sure you have some references and that you know they are trustworthy and you can trust them. think them.
16 more pets saved
Police found 16 other animals in the care of Rodriguez, and they were in poor condition. The space is about 85 degrees F, with no fans and no water. It was extremely dirty and smelled of urine. Some of the dogs were kept in crates that were too small for them, but fortunately no other animals died.
“What we found in there was horrible, and we ended up getting 16 other animals from her and taking care of them, bringing them back to their owners,” McMahon said.
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The situation is currently under investigation. Rodriguez was charged with two counts of animal cruelty and was awarded a $2,100 bail. No updates have been publicly posted at this time.
Sadly, situations like these are becoming increasingly common. Many dogs have been put in danger after being left with a stranger. Although Rover does do background checks on babysitters, it’s good to be cautious. If you’ve ever had weird feelings about a babysitter, trust your gut and find another place to take your dog. It’s better to be safe than sorry in these situations.
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