Online Resources for Responsible Pet Owners

By Julia Williams

Like many people, I use the internet daily, and sometimes I wonder how I ever survived without it. The internet is extremely useful for information gathering – whatever you need to know can be found in seconds. We have a wealth of helpful information at our fingertips on proper pet care, training, health issues, behavior, nutrition and many other things that can help us be responsible pet owners. In fact, this blog is a great place to find those very things! I may be biased, but I highly recommend it for advice on how to keep your pet healthy, happy and safe. Here are some other online resources for responsible pet owners.

Information Sites

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is our nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization. Their site offers pet adoption resources, helpful tips and comprehensive, well-written articles on a wide variety of pet care issues. 

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane organization established in North America and is one of the largest worldwide. They offer moderated discussions, articles, and Q & A columns on everything pet-related. You can also see videos of adoptable animals, and get freebies such as desktop wallpaper and a “pet safety pack” that includes a window decal and poison hotline magnet. The ASPCA also has an online store stocked with cat and dog toys, pet bowls, books, apparel and more.

ASPCA Kids is a wonderful animal-related site for children. Along with kid-friendly information on pet care, finding a lost pet and lots of different ways children can help animals, the site has cartoons, photos, fun pet facts, games, and details on animal related careers.

CatChannel.com is the sister website of Cat Fancy, one of my favorite magazines about felines. Not surprisingly, CatChannel.com is also my favorite online site for “all things cat” with news, advice, breed information, videos, photos, kitty quizzes, games, ringtones, a forum, and so much more.

Pet Adoption

Want to add a new furry friend to your family? Petfinder is a comprehensive searchable database of animals who need a forever home, as well as a directory of 13,000+ animal shelters and adoption organizations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The site is updated daily, and currently has around 350,000 adoptable pets listed. If you’re not looking for a pet to adopt, Petfinder has how-to videos, helpful articles about adopting, pet news, free games, contests, e-cards, widgets, graphics and the Adoptable Mutt Maker, which lets you create your own cool new dog breed!

The Oregon Humane Society in Portland has an innovative online service called Find Your Match, which helps people find the “pet of their dreams.” Borrowing a page from online dating services, the OHS database has an extensive search function that lets you look for dogs and cats with the physical characteristics and personality traits you desire. For more on this unique pet-matching service, read How to Find Your Dream Dog or Cat.

Breed Profiles

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a great go-to site for learning about all of the different breeds of dogs. Conformation and temperament requirements are detailed for more than 150 breeds, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier. The site also has information on breed clubs, breed rescue, dog news, and listings for AKC sponsored events such as obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing and agility.

The website for the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) offers information and insight into the world of pedigreed felines – with breed profiles and histories, breeder search, Top Cat Awards and photos, cat show schedule, and articles on feline health issues.

Traveling with Pets

Dogfriendly.com is a great site for information on places that people and pooches can enjoy together. They have listings for dog-friendly cities and resorts, lodging, beaches and parks, campgrounds, restaurants, attractions and events in the U.S. and Canada.

PetFriendlyTravel.com and its sister site, PetFriendlyRestaurants.com provides searchable listings for all sorts of pet-friendly lodging and dining in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including hotels and motels, vacation rentals, campgrounds, resorts and spas, restaurants and even dog-friendly wineries that offer “yappy hours.”

Pet Airways is the first “pet’s only” airline where four-legged friends ride in the main cabin of the plane instead of the cargo hold. Launched in 2009, Pet Airways currently serves airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Omaha, Phoenix, New York and Washington DC. For more information on Pet Airways, click here to read our blog article.

Pet Sitters International is a terrific online resource for pet owners who travel. Here, you can find a qualified pet sitter to take good care of your furry friend while you’re away. The site also has lots of helpful information for pet owners on a variety of topics, such as heat stroke, disaster preparedness, traveling tips, and how to interview a potential pet sitter.

I could easily make this article go on into infinity, because the number of great websites for pet owners is astounding; I simply can’t cover them all. However, if you want to discover even more online resources for responsible pet owners, just visit your favorite internet search engine and start typing. You’ll be amazed at the bottomless pit of information available online for pet lovers.

Read more articles by Julia Williams