While searching for new topics to write about (honestly, how many times do you want to hear about my own cat?!), I stumbled across the “50 Best Pet Websites for 2018,” at ravereviews.org/web/best-pet-websites.
Some of the sites were those you might expect to see on the list: PETA, The Humane Society of the United States, the American Kennel Club. But there were others that I thought it would be nice to highlight, if for no other reason than I’m a pet lover, and I figure you are, too.
One, iheartdogs.com, was a Facebook page just two years ago, but it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Every purchase from the site donates a meal (or several) to a dog at a shelter. They have items for you and your canine companion, and many are customizable by breed.
If cats are more your speed, thecatsite.com is for you. As much as we all love a good cat video, this site steers clear of cats on Roombas in shark costumes, though there are plenty of photos of everyday cats and their lives, taken by the humans they own. Topics covered on this site range from “How to choose the best name for your cat” to “Ringworm in cats.” There is also an online forum where you can talk to other cat owners about a variety of issues specific to cats.
Speaking of cute pictures and videos, if you’re interested in furry critters other than dogs and cats, zooborns.com has adorable baby animals of the nondomestic kind. You can even search by the type of animal you’d like to see, or by zoo. Although it is mostly fluff, I would bet that most people could use a smile now and then, and who doesn’t want to see adorable pictures of baby slow lorises?
Another site that isn’t on the list, but is still worth checking out, is UPS Dogs Facebook page, facebook.com/upsdogs. You don’t even have to have an account to see it. These are real posts from UPS drivers around the world with the animals they encounter on their routes. It’s both heartwarming and adorable to see so many animals who love their UPS drivers, as opposed to the negative stereotype of the dog biting the mailman. There are many animals on this site, not just dogs — I’ve seen goats and deer.
There is one more site I’d encourage you to visit, and that is the one for your local animal shelter. Around here, that website is lincoln.coastalhumanesociety.org. If you’re ready to give an animal a “fur-ever” home, this website has what you’re looking for. The site is updated frequently and is easy to navigate. It also has volunteer opportunities if you love animals and want to spend time with them but can’t have them in your home.
I’m sure there are plenty more websites that I didn’t even see – I’d love to hear about them (and maybe even write a column about them). If you have any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to email me at allpwz@yahoo.com. Until then, happy surfing!
(Sarah Caton owns All Paws Pet Sitting, which serves all of Lincoln County.)
