Rover.com acquires DogBuddy

Pet care website Rover.com has announced the acquisition of dog walking platform, DogBuddy. The announcement comes just five months after Rover announced its expansion into the United Kingdom. With the acquisition of DogBuddy, Rover has expanded its network of potential sitters and walkers. The pet care website says owners will have access to a wider selection of services and experienced sitters and walkers who “care for their pets just like they would”. The company said it was continuing to expand into new markets abroad. Aaron Easterly, CEO of Rover, said: ”We are incredibly pleased to welcome DogBuddy to the Rover family. We have a great deal of admiration for its leadership team, and what they’ve accomplished in becoming the leading player in Europe. While this transaction is a mutual fit for our strategic business priorities, we also share similar company cultures and values, and a passion for pets and the people who love them. “Today’s announcement accelerates our international expansion plans and underscores Rover’s global leadership in the pet care space. With roughly 70 million dog-owning households and 31 percent of global pet spend concentrated in Europe, the market represents one of the largest populations of dog owners outside of the U.S.” Richard Setterwall, founder and CEO of DogBuddy: “I started DogBuddy to help dog owners with a very real challenge of removing obstacles to pet ownership. “We, like Rover, believe it should be easy for anyone to experience the joy of having a dog in their lives. Over the past five years, our community of trusted dog sitters has provided the most convenient way to access safe, reliable dog care services that match owners’ needs. I’m so proud to see how far we’ve come, and I’m even more excited to see what we can achieve together in the years ahead.” The acquisition brings Rover, already active in the US, Canada and the UK, to pet owners in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. Rover will continue to base its headquarters in Seattle and Washington whilst continuing to be led by Easterly as CEO. Megan Teepe, vice president and general manager of international, will lead Rover’s continued global growth, while Setterwall will continue to lead DogBuddy Europe.