What is social networking? Think “birds of a feather” meets high tech, without the constraints of coordinating
schedules or even being in the same country.
Groups of people with like interests – a cat breed, dog
sport, or just animals in general – meet online to exchange
information, share enthusiasm and talk all things canine
and/or feline.
So where are these folks and how do you find them? You
don’t need a secret handshake or a map to the clubhouse,
just a good search engine and time on the computer.
There are all kinds of ways to connect and communicate
with other animal lovers all over the world. Just remember
to protect yourself and your identity. Never give out
personal information, share passwords or a home phone
number. People can easily find an address and even a map
to your house online.
Email groups
Email groups can be by city, rescue, breed, the way a dog
or cat is fed – just search dog or cat lover plus your area
of interest. A local group can keep you updated on fun
things for you and your animal to do. Rescue groups can
arrange a long distance transport or the pickup of an animal
from a shelter. Most email groups allow photos so
everyone can see your dog or cat’s best picture.
Be sure to read the rules when you join – no flaming (personal
attacks), no shouting (ALL CAPS), and sometimes,
no off topic remarks. Each group has its own rules. Remember,
when posting, you don’t know all the members.
Limit your comments to your own experiences.
When replying, use proper email etiquette. Your subject
line should reflect the content of your email. Trim your
posts – that is, when replying to the group, delete all the
original emails except a line or two for reference. Most
email programs can do this by changing the settings.
Before you hit Send, double check the address line.
Many group members have embarrassed themselves by
thinking they were replying to a personal message only
to see it appear in the group email for all to read.
Blogs
Blogs are web logs posted by an individual, group or as
part of a business. You can find information on dog parks,
animal friendly hotels, Pawrdi Gras parades and more by
searching “location + dog (or cat) lover + blog”. Information
can show up anywhere. For instance, one blog from
Baltimore mentions a pet lounge area at the St Louis airport
(weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog). It also
allows readers to post photos of their dogs (be sure to see
the pugs dressed as geisha girls!). Dogster.com lets you cre-ate a webpage for your dog or cat, see dogs in need of a home, post videos,
or find answers in the forums. You can post events in your area as part of
their blog page.
If you would like to start your own blog, the three most common blog
hosts are, wordpress, typepad and blogspot. In May 2008, internetbusiness.com reported that 175,000 new blogs are created each day. That’s one new
blog every half second. Quickonlinetips.com says we post 1.6 million blog
entries daily.
Keep in mind that with so much information being posted, not all of it will
be accurate. Trust your instincts, verify facts and never use medical information
you’ve read online in lieu of seeing your veterinarian. Your dog and
cat are part of your family; don’t put them at risk.
Facebook
Facebook is the most interactive social utility. Think of giving the key to
your diary to everyone you know and everyone they know – and getting
the keys to theirs, too. You can post a private message or a message on the
wall (for all to read). Dogbook and Catbook are places for you to see pictures,
create your own profiles and more. Save a Dog lets you virtually foster
a dog; each time you log on, you earn points that donate food to rescues.
Find out more by searching Dogbook, Catbook or Save a Dog in Facebook’s
search. Posts may include links to videos on youtube.com, which now boasts
one billion (billion, not million) views per day.
Twitter
Twitter is fast paced, instant dispersal of information in quick bursts, limited
to 140 characters (not words). This keeps messages brief and to the point.
Co-founded by Jack Dorsey in 2006, Twitter creates a community where
posters choose who sees their updates. Dog groups can benefit by building
a strong base of followers (those who read your messages or tweets). If an
emergency occurs, one tweet alerts the followers instantly; no need for the
old-fashioned phone tree. In a situation where animals need to be rescued
in a hurry, Twitter could save lives.
SNIF
Imagine taking a walk in the park with your dog and coming
home to find an email from the guy with the bulldog
who passed you by the bridge. If you have a SNIF collar
tag for your dog, and meet another SNIFer, information
is transferred by the tags as you pass each other. You can
download the information when you get home. A quick
look at the sender’s profile will let you know if you want to
SNIF around some more. The SNIF tag can help you meet
people and dogs in your neighborhood, arrange play dates
at the dog park and even monitor your pup’s activity level
while you’re gone. Lightweight and armed with a low level
radio frequency, the tag is safe for your dog to wear.
Online dating
If you’re looking for more than information or friendship,
an online dating service for animal lovers might be
something to check out. One example is Purrsonals.com, a
dating and social networking site dedicated exclusively
to cat lovers. Sites like these help ensure you won’t wind
up in the heart-wrenching position of having to choose
between your animal and a new partner who turns out to
dislike or be allergic to dogs or cats.
Technology combined with common sense can make lots
of friends for you and your furry friend all over the world.
And it’s a lot more fun than reading about your second
cousin’s root canal in her annual newsletter! |
