Find your pet on the Net
Search for a four-legged friend online
By Jennifer D. Foster
Thinking of buying or adopting a pet? It's never been easier, faster or more convenient than with the help of your computer. The Internet is an invaluable resource, teeming with breeders, organizations, registered associations, adoption agencies, animal shelters, rescue groups and other indispensable sites to help you find that perfect puppy or feline friend.
Increase your research capabilities
"The Internet is a useful tool; it expands rescue and adoption avenues, especially for purebred dogs," says Dr. Kathleen Cavanagh, a veterinarian in Fonthill, Ont. Amy White, director of communications for the Toronto Humane Society, agrees. "The Internet and e-mail are very important ways to find animals homes. By using this type of technology, we are reaching potential adopters we might have otherwise missed," she says.
The web also allows for increased communication between breeders and potential pet owners. Potential pet owners sometimes choose their puppies or kittens shortly after they are born and then do not take them home for months. Many breeders may e-mail photos or video clips of your chosen pet, so you and your family can watch he or she grow before being brought home.
Torontonian Monica Curtis purchased her canine companion after spotting its litter advertised on the Toronto Star Online Classifieds. She now uses the Net to research pet health issues and is "hooked on window shopping" for another dog. For pet health, behaviour and breed information, "the Internet is always my first source and almost always my primary source," she says. "When you're seriously looking to adopt a new pet, taking a peek at online adoption rooms can save you plenty of time in shelter visits."
From cyberspace to your place
Doing research on the Net is okay, but many believe buying a pet online is not. "It's very much buyer beware when adopting online," explains Cavanagh.
Cavanagh says it is important to still consult with a local veterinarian to make sure the right breed is being selected and that you are properly prepared for the responsibilities of adoption. She suggests looking for reputable websites that list a board of directors and their credentials. White advises sticking to sites that rescue and find new owners for animals, thereby ensuring you're providing a good home for an animal in need.
Still, interaction between pet and owner is key — and that can't be determined over the Internet. "Your assessment of the compatibility and temperament of the individual animal is always easier when you see it in person," says Cavanagh.
Many breeders, humane societies, rescue groups and associations hold the same "connection" philosophy and prohibit online adoption. "We prefer to meet with the individual adopting the animals, so we can be sure that we are making the best matches," says White.
Create a pet diary
Once your animal friend has joined you, why not keep a pet log to track your pet's birth and growth. Include the following details: name and pedigree; parents; species; breed; date of birth and place of acquisition; cost; pet passport and microchip numbers; photographs; vet visits; shows/events entered and results; litters/offspring; vaccinations; insurance policy, premiums, claims; your pet's personality and growth measurements.
Start your research with these websites
Canadian Kennel Club
The CKC is the primary registry body in Canada for purebred dogs. The site includes a list of national, CKC-recognized breed clubs, complete with contact information, as well as a quiz to help match the dog breed(s) most suited to your lifestyle.
Canadian Cat Association
The cat's answer to the CKC, the CCA's site includes breed descriptions, affiliated clubs and a breeders' directory.
The Cat Fanciers' Association
The American CFA features the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats.
Dogs in Canada
This site contains an alphabetized index of breeds across Canada as well as hundreds of dog breeders across the country.
Humane Society of Canada
Click on the Pets icon to connect with close to a hundred adoptable pets across Canada and the United States. The site also has lost and found pages, descriptions and contact information for each pet.
Pet Finder
This quick pet search site features more than 125,000 adoptable animals. Type in your city and province and the kind of pet you're after, and you'll find links and contact information to humane societies, rescue organizations and shelters housing the animal you requested.
SPCA
Although there is not a centralized link for the SPCA across Canada, a quick search will bring up each province's chapter.
