12/11/2024
Never forget about Meg!
Just because someone is on Rover, it does not make them legitimate, professional or even qualified to care for your pet family members.
JUSTICE FOR MEG
It is with mixed emotions that we share the outcome of our legal case regarding the loss of our beloved dog, Meg.
On November 7, 2024, the Small Claims Court of Geneva County, Alabama, ruled in our favor in a lawsuit for breach of duty and breach of contract against Hayley Bovee (Hilb) and Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding.
Case Information:
• Court: Small Claims Court of Geneva County, Alabama
• Case Number: 34-SM-2024-900303.00
• Defendants: Hayley Bovee (Hilb), Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding
• Judgment Filed: 11/07/2024 at 1:06:19 PM
This judgment is a matter of public record.
What Happened to Meg:
Meg, our 9-year-old Australian Shepherd, disappeared on September 22, 2022, from Bovee (Hilb)’s home-based business, Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding, in Daleville, AL, during what was supposed to be a five-day stay. Initially, Bovee assured us we would receive frequent picture and video updates, starting within an hour of drop-off. However, she failed to provide any updates unless we initiated contact. It took her more than 24 hours to finally send us two pictures, only to inform us shortly afterward via text message that Meg had gone missing. She claimed Meg ran out of a door when she opened it to take out the trash.
Misrepresentation:
Bovee certified compliance with local legal requirements via the Rover.com platform, presenting herself as operating a legitimate business. When we requested insurance details, she claimed her business was covered by a Rover.com liability policy but advised us she did not have the specifics. Instead of assisting us in obtaining them, she directed us to contact her insurance provider ourselves. When we did so, Rover.com confirmed that her claim was false. Further investigation revealed she was operating Wiregrass K9s without a valid business license, necessary permits, or proper zoning approvals for a residential boarding operation. Daleville City Hall confirmed these violations, and the Daleville Police Department issued Bovee a Notice of Violation following our police report (case number 5503).
Preventable Failures in Communication and Care:
Effective and timely communication is essential in pet care, particularly in stressful situations. From the beginning of Meg’s stay, Bovee’s communication was inconsistent and inadequate. We repeatedly had to seek basic updates that she had promised to provide, and her method of delivering critical, devastating information casually through text message reflected poor crisis management, a lack of empathy, and disrespect for her clients.
We contacted Rover.com to discuss the situation on our return home to search for Meg, only to be shocked to learn they had no knowledge of the incident. Bovee had failed to report Meg’s disappearance, leaving us—despite not being present and lacking the full details—to notify Rover.com ourselves. This failure not only hindered recovery efforts by over four hours but also prevented access to Rover’s resources that could have supported the search at its most critical moments. Her inaction highlights a troubling lack of responsibility and a disregard for Rover’s policies.
Additionally, while accidents are an unfortunate reality, they are no longer accidents when basic precautions are ignored or neglected. Bovee has made several statements suggesting we were at fault and describing Meg as a problematic dog, citing her lack of training and recall. This assertion has left us deeply puzzled, as training was never a requirement for boarding, and we believe it should not be used as a justification for negligence. While we acknowledge that no pet is perfect, it is reasonable to expect a professional trainer, boarder, and groomer to be capable of handling dogs with varying training levels and behavioral needs—particularly a low-energy, senior dog like Meg.
Based on what we’ve learned from others in the animal care industry, the consensus is that:
• A professional should never assume that every dog in their care is perfectly trained, as any animal, regardless of training, and especially in an unfamiliar environment, can behave unpredictably.
• A professional is expected to anticipate potential risks and take reasonable precautions to minimize them.
While Bovee claimed she "did everything to keep Meg safe," the circumstances of Meg's escape demonstrate otherwise. Proper containment and attention could have prevented the incident.
Lack of Preparedness, Transparency, Accountability, and Professionalism:
A professional should maintain essential documentation, such as insurance information, and have it readily available for clients in the event of an incident. Bovee was unable to provide this information and instead placed the burden on us to investigate. While we doubt she was truly ignorant of her coverage at the time, her response suggested she only became aware of this after we brought it to her attention. This highlights a concerning lack of foresight, poor organization, and disregard for client concerns. Her approach to pet care appeared to rely on reactive measures rather than proactive safeguards, underscoring her lack of preparation to prevent incidents from escalating into crises.
A professional would address such an incident openly, take ownership of mistakes, and outline steps to prevent future occurrences. Despite promising to share Meg’s missing posts, Bovee never acknowledged Meg’s disappearance through her business’s page or any other platform associated with Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding. This lack of transparency not only raises concerns about her accountability but also denies other pet owners the opportunity to be fully informed about the risks involved in leaving pets in her care. Bovee’s silence reflects a disregard for the trust and confidence we, and the rest of her clients, placed in her, further demonstrating a lack of professionalism.
Broader Patterns of Concern:
We are not alone in our experience. At least four families, including ours, have encountered significant issues with Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding across three different locations in southeast Alabama—Coffee Springs, Daleville, and Chancellor—between summer 2022 and fall 2023. One family fortunately found their dog shortly after it escaped Bovee’s care within an hour of being dropped off, and another family had to retrieve their dogs after more than 17 hours with no communication during the first day of what was supposed to be a 30-day train-and-board.
Tragically, the other two cases resulted in the loss of pets: one dog (Meg) remains missing after two years, and another dog is dead.
Despite these incidents, Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding appears to remain operational, according to Bovee's Rover.com profile and the business’s page.
We encourage anyone with concerns or negative experiences to come forward: Meg was not their first “accident,” and had others spoken up before us, we would never have left Meg in their care.
If you have had a good experience with Bovee (Hilb) and Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding, consider yourself fortunate. If you continue to trust Bovee (Hilb) with your pets, please consider requesting proof of insurance and business licenses and verifying her compliance with any other legal requirements in accordance with the Code of Ordinances where she is operating (Rover profile currently indicates Coffee Springs, AL, Geneva County).
Our Message to Pet Owners and Sitters
Please take the time to read Rover’s Terms of Service and Guarantee and also familiarize yourself with the local code of ordinances in the area where your Rover.com sitter is operating. Rover sitters are independent contractors—not Rover.com employees—which means they are running their own small businesses and must adhere to local laws and regulations. Simply by using the Rover.com platform, they are effectively certifying that they are legally compliant with these rules. They are solely responsible for any legal issues that arise during the time your pet is in their care, and they are accountable for any damage or harm caused while providing services. Many Rover.com sitters are unaware of this responsibility, as they often overlook this crucial section of the Terms of Service. Additionally, Rover.com does NOT provide insurance for sitters; they are required to secure their own insurance coverage if they wish to be protected.
It’s important to note that local ordinances may classify anyone who accepts payment for services as a business, regardless of whether they are running a formal company. This means that even if a Rover sitter is operating out of their home or apartment, they are likely required to comply with business regulations—including zoning, licensing, and insurance—based on local law. Additionally, those living in military base housing should be aware of specific housing rules regarding pet-sitting, as such activities may require prior approval or have restrictions in place.
If you’ve been harmed by a Rover.com sitter (or any sitter at all), you do have recourse: a lawsuit against a sitter who violates local laws and regulations CAN be successful if their failure to comply with business requirements leads to harm, such as financial loss, property damage, or personal injury.
The number of pet owners who have successfully taken legal action against their sitters is growing. The more these sitters are held accountable for their misconduct, the less likely they are to repeat their actions in the future. Holding them accountable not only helps victims pursue justice but also sets a strong precedent that discourages further exploitation and mistreatment. This accountability is essential in the fight against platforms like Rover.com, as it sends a clear message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated. Ultimately, it pushes for stronger protections and higher standards for both pet sitters and pet owners.
Closing Thoughts
Bovee (Hilb)’s verbal and written accounts to us, as well as her statement in the police report, made it apparent that the environment was not properly secured, and sufficient precautions were not taken to contain Meg before Bovee opened her door. We believe these failures directly created the conditions for Meg’s escape. Furthermore, Bovee’s misrepresentations, deflection of responsibility, and inadequate crisis management only compounded the situation, leaving us devastated and without completely honest answers. These failures raise significant concerns about her ability to care for pets entrusted to her and emphasize the risks of leaving pets in her care.
Lastly, we want to highlight a statement that Bovee made in response to a negative post about Wiregrass K9s by another military family. When confronted in the comments, Bovee acknowledged her shortcomings with the following remark regarding Meg:
“In that situation, we did fail and have since last year placed many more safety features and policies into effect.”
While this admission came more than a year later, her contradictory defense during the trial—once again attributing the situation to Meg’s alleged lack of training and recall—further undermines her credibility. This leaves us deeply skeptical of her claim that she has made any meaningful corrections to address her prior deficiencies. There are many other details we have chosen not to share, as they are not directly related to Meg’s case and are beyond our personal experiences. Given all we have learned over the past two years, we wish we could believe her statement to be true, but, sadly, we do not.
This judgment against Bovee (Hilb) and Wiregrass K9s Training & Boarding cannot bring back our sweet Meg but marks an important step forward and provides a small sense of closure and a measure of accountability for the immense heartbreak we’ve endured. Although it’s unlikely we will ever see the financial compensation awarded to us by the court, the true significance lies in the hope that Meg’s story will make a difference for others.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has stood by us, offered support, helped us search, and shared in our grief. The compassion and kindness of all who are here, especially the Wiregrass community—and the continued efforts to ensure Meg is never forgotten—has been such a source of comfort and strength during this difficult time, and we cannot thank you enough for keeping Meg’s memory alive and close to your hearts. ❤️
We are not giving up on Meg, and we will continue to hold onto hope that one day we will find her.
Please continue to share her story to help create a safer world for the pets we love so deeply.
