Leaving your pets behind is never easy. For many families, services like Rover are the only option when travelling, but they also mean letting strangers into your home.
One Knoxville woman learned just how unsettling that can be after checking her security camera during a weekend away.
Woman shares unsettling Rover petsitter story
TikTok creator Megan (@megangagnon09) posted a video recounting her experience, which got over 51,000 views.
She explained that she and her fiancé flew to Florida with their baby, leaving their dog, Pumpkin, in the care of a sitter they hired through Rover. The sitter agreed to stay in their home for two nights.
“All we asked was that she spent as much time as she could at the house, because Pumpkin is very anxious when she’s left alone,” Megan said.
Her home security system only covered the outside, including one camera over the garage. But what it captured surprised her. “This girl obviously didn’t really understand that it had peripheral vision,” she said.
According to Megan, on Saturday night, the sitter pulled into the driveway with five men and another woman. She backed her car up to the garage and opened the trunk, letting her friends crawl out one by one, thinking the camera wouldn’t catch her.
“Little did she know we were watching the whole thing,” Megan explained. The group stayed for about 45 minutes before leaving—only to return at 3 a.m., this time carrying four duffel bags. Megan admitted that initially, she thought they were going to rob her, but later concluded the college-aged group might have just been doing laundry.
Text updates versus reality
What made the whole ordeal worse, Megan said, was that the sitter was sending her cheerful texts at the same time. “She was sending me pictures saying how great everything was going with Pumpkin, when I could literally see she was having a party at our house,” Megan said.
On Sunday, the sitter wrapped up the stay and thanked Megan for the opportunity, saying she “had a great time with Pumpkin.” Megan, watching from Florida, said she felt panicked, wondering if the unwelcomed guests were stealing or damaging her home.
But when she returned home, she surprisingly found the house spotless. “It was like a teenager who throws a party and then meticulously cleans up,” Megan said.
They took the trash out, made the beds, and nothing appeared to be missing. Still, she added, “It was violating that she had a full-on party while we were gone.”
What options do owners have if something similar happens?
For those who find themselves in a similar situation, Rover says its Rover Guarantee covers “costs arising from certain injuries or damages that occur during a service booked and paid through Rover.”
That includes reimbursement if a sitter is unwilling or unable to cover damages, plus access to 24/7 Rover Support.
The company encourages owners to first message their sitter about the issue. If the host and pet sitter can’t reach an agreement, they can escalate to Rover Support with a summary of the problem, supporting evidence, and their desired resolution. Issues must be reported within 28 days of the booking.
Not everyone thinks it’s serious
Viewers had divided thoughts on how serious the incident really was. Some said Megan’s story mirrored their own.
“Happened to me. Same company. Our dog was a senior. Group trip and I flew home early because my dog was left alone. Never ever again!” one commenter wrote.
Others urged her to leave an honest review so future pet owners wouldn’t be caught off guard. “I’m a 5-star Dog Nanny on Rover and I am mortified that people like this are giving us a bad reputation. Please give her an honest review so this doesn’t happen again,” one user said.
Still, a few people downplayed the situation.
@megangagnon09 You won’t believe what our dog sitter did while we were gone… #storytime #rover #dogsitter #dogmom #dogmomlife ♬ original sound – Megan
“Five people isn’t really a party for teenagers, just a hangout,” one commenter said. Another added that at least Pumpkin wasn’t alone and may have enjoyed the extra attention.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Megan via Instagram direct messages and Rover via email for comment.
Update Sep. 20, 2025:
In an email to The Mary Sue, a Rover representative said their 24/7 Trust & Safety team is investigating the incident and waiting for information from both the owner and the sitter.
“Any sitter who violates our policies or community standards will face appropriate action, up to permanent removal from the platform,” they added.
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