You Have Feline: Internet Adoptions

If you want to adopt a pet, but are not sure exactly how to begin your search, the Internet may offer an excellent opportunity from which to begin your journey. With the increasing accessibility and popularity of the Internet today, folks are able to find information on almost every topic imaginable. Students do research for projects, homemakers can find that perfect recipe to plan for a perfect dinner party, and most of us now let our fingers walk over to eBay or other online outlets to buy a wide variety of products. I purrsonally do all my cat food and litter purchases online as it is far more convenient and with their huge discounts, shipping costs are often defrayed. However, are we actually able to adopt a pet on the Internet? You bet we can! http://www.petfinder.com/ is one of the most popular adoption sites, where people can locate, by geographical areas and species, an appealing furry companion. http://www.pet4you.org/adopt-a-pet.htm is another source to find pets needing homes. Animal Shelters often list daily reaching out to people who want to adopt. http://www.animalshelter.org/ While there is generally a fee associated with these adoption sites, they are reasonable and help protect pets available for adoption. Responsible and knowledgeable breeders often advertise dogs and cats for sale, as well as retired breeding stock and show pets for adoption at a reasonable cost. They can easily be found using popular search engines such as Google.com. One can even find purebred pets needing homes through online purebred rescue websites, by searching by "breed". For purebred dog rescue visit: http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm and for purebred cat rescue, visit:http://www.purebredcatrescue.org/ Word of "mouth" between online friends is another popular resource for folks wanting to adopt a pet. One of my online friends, Pam, needed a home for her mother's Persian cat, Benny. Her mom's failing health resulted in her inability to provide the quality of care, which he needed. My friend lived in the Northeast; her mom lived in Florida, which presented a logistical problem. I emailed a friend who was an active volunteer in a breed rescue group, who quickly was able to facilitate Benny's adoption. Benny not only found his new human fur parents, but he also found a playmate named Jewels. After a short period of adjustment, they are inseparable. Since our own two cats were adopted through an Internet connection, using online connections has been a positive experience. While thorough research and careful thought are necessary ingredients in any pet adoption search, whether in real life or through the Internet, I feel that it has great potential to increase the chances of a successfully be able to adopt of the pet for which you have been searching. Would you consider adopting a pet via Internet connections? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.