NEW YORK, April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Rover.com, an online marketplace that connects dog owners with local dog sitters as an affordable, cage-free alternative to traditional kennels, announced the launch of its Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ Program today.

Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ enables Rover.com sitters to donate all, or a portion of their dog-sitting proceeds, to dog-related charities that have signed up to participate in the program. In the New York area, Rover.com has partnered with PAWS NY and Animal Haven. Other partners include VolunteerMatch and RedRover.

"From the beginning, Rover.com has been committed to the mission of providing all dogs with real, loving homes while their families travel," said Aaron Easterly, CEO of Rover.com. "Through our Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ program, we are able to help dogs who may not yet have a permanent home or whose families may need extra support to keep their pets at home."

Dog owners using Rover.com to find a sitter in their area can identify Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ participants by a badge on the sitter's profile. Rover.com has already signed up hundreds of participating dog-sitters in anticipation of today's launch.

Jacqueline Rivera, a Rover.com sitter located in New York, has recently joined the program and has already donated a portion of her earnings to PAWS NY. "Rover.com's Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ program makes it easy for me to help local dogs in need while doing something I love, and that I do anyway," said Rivera.

Rover.com has partnered with VolunteerMatch, the web's largest volunteer engagement network, as a giving option for sitters who elect to donate through the Sit a Dog, Save a Life™ program. "We're delighted that Rover.com members can now help make a difference for our network of animal shelters and other dog-related nonprofits," said Robert Rosenthal, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at VolunteerMatch.

Earlier this month, Rover.com announced the closing of a $3.4 million round of Series A funding, and the launch of its national roll-out. The Rover.com community has surpassed 15,000 members.

About Rover.com
Rover.com is an online marketplace that connects dog owners with local dog sitters and real homes in hundreds of cities across the United States. To learn more, go to www.Rover.com.

About PAWS NY
PAWS NY is a nonprofit organization providing pet care assistance to individuals in New York City who find themselves unable to care for their pets due to circumstances such as illness, job loss, physical limitations, age, or other crisis.

About Animal Haven
Animal Haven is a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abandoned cats and dogs throughout the Tri-State area and provides behavior intervention when needed to improve chances of adoption. Founded in 1967, Animal Haven operates an adoption center in Manhattan and mobile adoption van. The organization also provides programs that enhance the bond between animals and people.
Animal Haven is a 501 (c) 3 organization.

About VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is the Web's largest volunteer engagement network, with more than 80,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and eight million visitors each year. Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch offers solutions to make it easier for individuals, nonprofits and companies to make a difference. Since its launch, VolunteerMatch has helped nonprofits attract more than $2 billion worth of volunteer services. VolunteerMatch is a two-time Webby Award winner, a Smithsonian inductee, and has been recognized for its work by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Time, Oprah Winfrey and Presidents Clinton and Bush.

About RedRover
RedRover, formerly United Animal Nations, focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.

Contact:
Shanthi Barton
Vice President, Marketing
shanthi@rover.com
206-351-2011

New York, April 12, 2012 SEATTLE /PRNewswire/-- Rover.com, an online service that connects dog owners with local dog sitters, announced the launch of its New York marketplace today. 

 “New York is the perfect place to launch our local marketplaces,” said Aaron Easterly, CEO of Rover.com. “This city is home to a dedicated contingent of dog lovers who also travel and believe like we do that dogs prefer homes, not cages.  We are excited to provide New York dog owners with an alternative to expensive kennels.”

 New York dog owners can already browse hundreds of local sitter profiles for free on Rover.com and find affordable and convenient sitters in their neighborhood.  Professional and non-professional dog sitters can list their homes and services for free on Rover.com.

 Rover.com has partnered with New York’s Animal Haven and PAWS NY for this launch.

 “We are thrilled to be partnering with a company that shares our values like Rover.com,” said Rachel Herman, PAWS NY Founder and Executive Director. “Like people, dogs need love and attention. Both PAWS NY and Rover.com are dedicated to the idea that the best place for dogs to get that is in a happy home.”

 Rover.com offers 24-hour customer support through its Rover.com Barkline and an absolute satisfaction guarantee that covers the dog, owner and sitter.  Rover.com also provides its members with access to professional support, including training and certification, through partnerships with organizations like the International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants (IAABC) and Pet Tech. 

 Earlier this week, Rover.com announced a $3.4 million Series A financing led by Madrona Venture Group, an early backer of marketplaces like Amazon.com and Redfin.  Rover.com already has over 10,000 active members, tripling its member base in the last month.

 About Rover.com

Rover.com is an online marketplace that connects dog owners with local dog sitters and real homes in hundreds of cities across the United States.

 Contact:

Shanthi Barton

Vice President, Marketing

206-351-2011

SEATTLE, April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rover.com, an online marketplace connecting dog owners with local dog sitters, announced a $3.4 million Series A financing. Madrona Venture Group led the round, with CrunchFund and other leading angel investors participating.

Rover.com plans to use the funding to expand its national footprint and offer its service as an alternative to kennels in every major U.S. market. Since launching in Seattle in November 2011, Rover.com has grown to over 10,000 active members in hundreds of cities across the country.

"We are incredibly excited about what the funding and an outstanding group of investors will do to further our mission of helping to provide every dog with a safe, loving home when their families are away," said Aaron Easterly, CEO of Rover.com. "The Roverlution has officially begun!"

Rover.com enables dog owners to leave their pets in a home environment with other dog lovers, including fellow owners, neighbors and professionals.

"In the past, dog owners had limited choices for dog care, and those choices weren't appealing," said Easterly, a self-described servant to a four-pound Pomeranian named Caramel. "You could board your dog in a kennel, which can be stressful for your dog and expensive, or you could rely on friends or family, which is not always convenient and can feel like an imposition. Rover.com provides dog lovers with a community of like-minded people who love to take care of dogs and more often than not are willing to do it for less money than a traditional kennel charges."

In conjunction with the funding, the company announced the national launch of Rover Barkline, which provides 24-hour customer service and an absolute satisfaction guarantee that covers the dog, the owner and the host.

"More households in the United States have a dog than have a child," said Greg Gottesman, founder of Rover.com and Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group. "Some kennels actually charge you extra if you want them to pet your dog. We think there's a better way."

About Rover.com

Rover.com is an online marketplace that connects dog owners with local dog sitters and real homes in hundreds of cities across the United States.

About Madrona Venture Group

Madrona (www.madrona.com) has invested in early-stage technology companies, primarily based in the Pacific Northwest, since 1995 and has been privileged to play a role in some of the region's most successful technology ventures. Madrona currently manages over $675 million and was an early investor in companies such as Amazon.com, aQuantive, Isilon Systems, Farecast.com (now Bing Travel), and ShareBuilder.

About CrunchFund

CrunchFund is an early-stage venture capital firm founded by Michael Arrington, Patrick Gallagher, and MG Siegler. The fund invests in and works with information technology companies at any stage but is primarily focused on seed and early-stage investments.

Contacts:
Shanthi Barton
Vice President, Marketing
shanthi@rover.com
206-351-2011

Bella is a very special dog in my life. She belongs to one of my best friends from high school and is a wonderful Border Collie mix rescued from the Vancouver Humane Society. However, Bella has a small problem that she can be very aggressive around people. Her dog owner decided to take her to a professional dog trainer where things were less than successful. One week later Bella found herself in front of a “dog behavior specialist” for $200 an hour. The only thing more shocking than the price was the suggestion of getting another dog to fix the problem. I found this solution a bit ironic because as a dog owner and a frequent dog sitter because usually getting more of the problem does not offer a solution. However, it was explained to me by the behavioral specialist why this could work in a fairly logical matter.

As any well-known Seattle dog boarding facility will tell you that dogs are pack animals. One interesting conscience of this is behavior is that one dog can greatly influence the actions of another dog. In this specific case the behavioral specialist was saying that another dog around that is not aggressive towards humans should show Bella how to “act” appropriately. Usually I would just think this “dog behavior specialist” was looking for another $200, but I have seen this sort of method used with other dogs I have been a dog sitter for that had strong pack instincts. I think one of the most well-known examples around are Siberian Huskies. Siberian Huskies are notoriously known for looking at any moving animal as potential prey and they often need extensive training to control their behavior. However, having another dog around with a young Siberian Huskies can train it to leave animals like cats and other small dogs alone. Has anyone tried this pack training technique with dogs other than Siberian Huskies? We want to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.  

Post by Roverlutionary Danny

Good morning, Roverlutianaries! We’d like to continue our blog post from last time and talk about how to be a successful dog sitter on Rover.com. Of course the main requirement is a REAL LOVE for dogs.

If you are new to Rover.com, make sure to have a full description and pictures of yourself, your home and dogs if you have any. In your profile descriptions make sure to distinguish yourself as professional by listing your certifications and training or if you are a dog lover that would enjoy the company of a dog guest for a weekend or two while making some extra cash.

Here are some recommendations from Rover.com to make sure that you have a great experience in home dog boarding. Always make sure that the dog will fit your home environment and your living style. Try to familiarize yourself about the dog(s) you are about to watch. Is the dog friendly with other pets and children? Does the dog have any record of accidents or misbehavior? You don’t want to host a dog that won’t get along with your kids or pets.  Ask the dog owner a lot of questions about the dog and the dog’s routine, and try to maintain this routine as much as possible. This will ensure that both you and your guest dog have a great time. Ask the owner to bring the pooch’s favorite toys, food bowls, bed, blankets and anything else that could help the dog to feel just at home. You should also ask the owner about the commands that the dog obeys such as “sit”, “heel”, “stay” and etc. Dogs will listen to you as long as you know their commands.

Another great tip to be a successful dog host on Rover.com is to send daily updates and pictures to the dog owner. Nothing can melt a dog owner’s heart like seeing their favorite “pooch” fetching a ball or sweetly curled up sleeping on their favorite bed.

If you are new and haven’t booked through Rover.com yet, ask for Testimonials from your friends and family that know your passion and love for dogs. Once you start booking through Rover.com, each dog owner will be able to provide a review for other dog owners to learn more about you.

Post by Mariana

Rover.com is becoming one of the leading websites for dog care and here is a reason why. We connect a wide range of dog sitters, dog owners and dog lovers with different backgrounds and experiences. What brings them all together is their love for dogs. Dog sitting and in home dog boarding is a “roverlutionary” opportunity for many dog owners who need to find a real solution to a real problem.  Rover.com is here to help you find real dog lovers who may be just blocks away and can provide your dog with a safe home environment that is more affordable than a kennel. We believe that when people do what they love to do, they will be happy to provide a safe and fun environment for your pooch. You have a real choice by browsing sitter’s profiles; see their pictures and whether they have life long experience of dog ownership or do this professionally.

We wanted to give you some tips on how to ensure a great match for your dog when looking for a dog sitter. One way to ensure that the dog sitter matches your personal requirements is to try and inform yourself more about the services provided by the dog sitter of your choice.  Try to initiate a “Meet and Greet” before the actual stay so you don’t encounter any surprises at the last minute. Here are example of questions to consider asking before you do the “Meet and Greet.”

• How many dogs will be present during your dog’s stay?
• How much time daily will the sitter spend with your dog inside and outside?
• Who will be the prime caregiver?
• Where the sitter plans to take the dog when outside?

As a dog owner you should also consider telling the dog sitter everything about your dog to ensure that the dog sitter is familiar as much as possible about your dog’s preferences, habits, likes and dislikes. Be prepared to provide information about medical history and vaccinations, and how your dog behaves around children and other pets.

And finally, let’s not forget that bringing your dog’s favorite toys, treats, beds, or blankets will help your dog feel right at home when you are away.

Post by Mariana

So you have made the lifetime decision to add a puppy to your life and now you wonder when the best time to get one is? While there is no hard rules when to become a dog owner and get a puppy, there might be times that are more favorable for you and for your dog. Most dog owners, dog sitters and dog boarding facilities may agree with us that spring or summer could be the optimal time obtaining your four legged friend.  Spring and summer months might be the great time of the year because it's not raining when you're house breaking and it also gives your family the benefit of longer and warmer days. If you have kids, this time is great for them to get used to the new family member while they are in spring or summer break. The dog can create routine and by the time fall is upon us, he would be few months old and will already know commands and would be potty trained. Of course, you should consider whether you are taking any time off traveling during these months since many people like to take vacations during the warmer days. Getting a dog or puppy right before going on vacation will interfere with getting familiar with each other and  with house training efficiency. Remember that dogs are pack animals and like to be part of the family.  It might be stressful for the dog to separate with its owners right after becoming part of the family.

Fall and winter can be a little harder and trickier to get your dog properly trained. One concern with these seasons is that it can be getting cold out, especially for a new puppy. Most puppies and small breed dogs have a hard time adjusting to the cold weather and the house training might be harder to accomplish.  The months before end of the year are also considered the holiday season when people are busy with their holiday shopping, traveling and family gatherings.

Of course no matter when you decide to get a puppy whether during the spring or fall,  there is never a better time to get a puppy other then when you can afford to spend quality time with it, get to know each other and house train it.

We’d love to hear what your opinion is as a dog owner or dog sitter. Tell us your experience of what were the pros and cons at different times of year.

Post by Roverlutionary Mariana

Hi there Roverlutionaries! This is the second part of our series about dog diet. In this part, we want to focus on dog allergies and toxic foods.

Is your favorite pooch scratching and itching a lot? It is always a good idea for dog owners and dog sitters to first check if their dog has flees. If there are no sign of flees, there might be a chance that your pooch has a food allergy. Symptoms can start as early as your dog is still a puppy but in most cases the allergic reactions are noticed after they turn 2 years.  Dogs usually need the same nutrients in their diet as humans such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals but they also have many intolerances and allergic reactions. Their systems can’t process much of the poor quality of ingredients that can sometimes be found in commercial dog food. Some of the allergic reaction ingredients are soy, corn, wheat, diary, fish, and eggs.

The main treatment of allergies is transition is to find a dog food that is highly digestible and higher quality and many times the allergy symptoms will disappear. However,   if the dog is allergic to a specific ingredient, the trial and error is the best approach. It is a good idea for dogsitters, dog owners or Seattle dog boarding facility owner to try avoiding each food for some time until finding the one that triggers the allergy and eliminating it completely from the dog’s diet.

Dogs can eat many of the same foods just like people but there are some that are highly toxic even fatal for dogs to consume.  The list below highlights some of the most common foods that can be dangerous to your pooch.

·       Avoid giving chocolate and caffeinated drinks that can affect the heart

·       Bones from fish and cooked bones can block the digestive system

·       Macadamia nuts and Grapes can do harm to the kidneys

·       Mushrooms and alcohol can end result in shock or coma.

·       Citrus and bread dough can cause vomiting

·       Onions and garlic have the ability to damage red blood cells and cause anemia.

·       Spoiled food and garbage, well, let’s keep these in the trash can.

What is your experience with your pooch’s allergy and no no food choices? Please share your experience with our readers.

Post by Mariana

Today we want to talk a little about our canine’s diets. It is important to know some basic facts if you have a dog or are dog sitting someone’s furry friend because some seemingly harmless small bites can actually make a dog very sick!

The common saying goes “we are what we eat” and if this is true for humans, it is also true for our canine friends. Knowing about the proper diet, and how much and when to feed our dogs can help our dogs to live healthier and longer lives. There is of course not an easy answer about what is the best food for our dogs since they differ by breed, size, age, energy level, likes and dislikes.  In this post we will try to help with some general information about different dog foods since there is no “one size fits all” in this category!

Dogs, for the most part need food that consists with the nutrients that their human owners’ bodies need: protein, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and of course water.  But there is a big difference between people and dogs can tolerate. For example, people can enjoy a piece a chocolate (not necessarily best food for you) but the same piece of chocolate can be extremely harmful to their dog.

As most profesisonal caretakers like Seattle dog boarding facility owners or Seattle dog sitters know, dog food differs from human food in ingredients depending on the manufacturer and the brand. All of the dog food should meet standards that are set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Those standards cover all the nutrients but depending on the manufacturer, the food could contain protein from protein or plant sources, grains or different types of carbohydrates, level of fat and moisture and etc.  

Each label should have the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement which should provide the complete and balanced nutrition and all life stages such as growth, adulthood and senior, all depending on your dog’s life stage.

Good thing to keep in mind for all dog owners and dog sitters is when trying out a dog food is to use it for at least 6 weeks to see how it affects your dog. Some of the signs that the food is good for your dog are: Does your dog looks healthy overall? Is the coat shiny? Also, don’t undermine the dogs flavor preferences and lifestyle.

What are your general guidelines when choosing food for your dog? What would you be your basic recommendations to first time dog owners and dog sitters?

Post by Mariana