Social Networking For Your Pets: A New Breed of Bloggers

Millions of people connect everyday on social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook. We found a unique way a lot of those people are taking that connection to another level. News 3 is On Your Side, showing you how to reach out to other animal lovers and how to start your own web page for your pet.
 
In a special report tonight, News 3's Randi Hempel introduces us to a whole new breed of bloggers.
 
Lisa Scarbrough, president and founder of Coastal Pet Rescue plays with her dogs in the backyard. Inside, at her computer, she shares their lives.
 
“All of my friends are posting their pictures on Facebook and MySpace of their kids,” says Scarbrough.
 
But Lisa Scarbrough doesn't have kids, per se. These are her little ones.
 
“So I take pictures of the first time my kids sit or learn how to play fetch,” explains Scarbrough.
 
And she posts their every move, on the web.
 
"I've got their puppy pictures, their day that they came home pictures, when they got older, their little stories, their little milestones, like their first birthdays,” Scarbrough gets excited about her kid’s lives.
 
She uses dogster.com or dogbook.com. Think Facebook, but for man's best friend.
 
“This was Christmas and that's him helping me foster puppies,” Scarbrough talks about the posted pictures.
 
It's a growing trend. People post through their pets. They can join groups or do reviews. Scarbrough's dog, DaVinci, has a big job for his paws to fill.
 
"DaVinci is the administrator for the Tybee Island dog parks cause that's where we go,” she adds.
 
Scarbrough keeps four profiles up to date, one page for each of her pooches. They're pretty popular.
 
“I have two of my dogs are Alaskan Malamute mixes and they have those piercing blue eyes and I get compliments on them all the time, on how beautiful they are,” she’s beaming.
 
She says they get several friend requests a day.
 
“I get more friend requests off of my Dogbook pages than I do for my Facebook, you know people wanting to be more friends with my dog more than they want to be friends with me, which is fine. I'm okay with that,” she laughs.
 
These sites have content for pet owners and non-owners alike. On dogster.com and catster.com, besides blogs and bulletins, you can "ask a vet" or get information through the owner's manual page. The site helps with choosing a dog that's right for you, selecting food and healthcare and if you don't have a pet just yet, there's even an adoption page.
 
Scarbrough has high hopes that her furry friends will be adopted by those who see them online.
 
“It helps to bring traffic whereas people who are not going to our website may be searching on dogster to make new friends and then they see an animal up for adoption and then they add that puppy as a friend. Maybe someone else sees it. Maybe they end up adopting or helping contribute to the medical care,” Scarbrough talks about the possibilities.
 
On Hope's page, there are pictures from when she was taken in after a chain was embedded in her neck. It was surgically removed and now she's doing well. Her page has her story so perspective parents can learn all about her.
 
“She's actually been viewed 193 times, but no adoption,” but Scarbrough’s hopeful.

Find out pet social websites and other related stories at keyword: Pet Net

For more on Coastal Pet Rescue, click here.