Dog Vacay, the online marketplace that matches dog owners in need of pet-care services with amazing qualified pet caregivers, announces the company raised $1 million in seed funding lead by First Round Capital, along with notable investors Ben Ling, Brian Lee, Ted Rheingold, Tom McInerney, Dennis Phelps, Thomas Ryan, Quest Venture Partners and Baroda Ventures. Howard Morgan, Managing Partner at First Round Capital will join the board, along with Mike Jones and founder Aaron Hirschhorn.

The community marketplace where dog lovers come together to provide personalized care for their pets launched two weeks ago with backing from technology studio Science Inc. Professional and casual pet-care providers from across the country can now sign up for free, to market their services on DogVacay.com. Dog owners who are unable to look after their pets because of their travel schedules can search for qualified locals across Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"The response to Dog Vacay has been overwhelming, and we're seeing tremendous demand to offer the service across the country," said Aaron Hirschhorn, founder and CEO of Dog Vacay. "We're going to rapidly deploy across the country in the coming months and are gearing up for the very busy spring and summer travel season. With Dog Vacay, owners now have the peace of mind knowing they can leave their dogs with qualified people in their neighborhood - a better experience for their dogs and their wallets."

Dog Vacay has a wide network of experienced pet-care providers who offer home-based dog boarding at an average of half the price of kennel boarding. Home dog boarding gives animals a better experience, with all the comforts of individual attention and freedom to roam. Dog owners no longer have to decide between burdening family and friends with pet-sitting requests or keeping their dogs caged in kennels.

Dog Vacay screens dog hosts, provides emergency support to hosts and customers, regular photo updates by email and SMS, pet insurance coverage, concierge services, and 100% money-back guarantee. In addition to boarding services, users can find dog walkers, trainers, day-care and pet-sitting (in their own home). Dog Vacay gives users a comprehensive overview of hosts that includes user reviews, social network connections, and hosts interviewed directly by Dog Vacay staff.

"First Round Capital looks for innovative ways the web can disrupt large and inefficient markets, especially those with high rates of dis-satisfaction like dog boarding. With Dog Vacay, we see a very unique way to leverage a passionate community of dog lovers into a collaborative network that gives dog owners a better solution to the $10 billion pet services market," said Howard Morgan, Managing Partner at First Round Capital.

Since launch, over 3000 people have applied to join Dog Vacay's vetted group of hosts, and approximately 1000 have been accepted. Dog Vacay will soon be available nationwide.

About Dog Vacay

Dog Vacay is a community marketplace where dog lovers come together to provide personalized care for their pets. The revolutionary service matches qualified local sitters with individual dogs' needs - whether you want a one-bedroom apartment for your Chihuahua or a 10-acre ranch for your Greyhound, Dog Vacay provides the best host and environment for your dog. Users can book stays for their pets with confidence and peace of mind - The Dog Vacay Guarantee includes emergency support, dog insurance, emergency veterinary care, photo updates, and Concierge services. The service is currently available in Los Angeles and San Francisco and is expanding nationwide.