[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

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 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, says the company. Since launching in Seattle in November 2011, Rover.com has grown to over 10,000 active members in hundreds of cities across the country.

“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.”

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