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Online Resources for Finding a Dog or Cat

By Tara Swords

A few years ago, dog-lover Heather Schulze, of Saratoga, Calif., got the itch to adopt a puppy. Fortunately, she didn't have to conduct this important search the old fashioned way by reviewing newspaper ads, or visiting pet stores and humane societies. Instead, she saved herself a lot of time and turned to the Internet for resources on finding a new loyal companion for her family.

"I'd been going online and browsing the pictures of the dogs, and then I saw Haley," Schulze remembers. "I loved everything that was written about her and she seemed to fit what I was looking for. I met her that same day, and she became a part of our family."

Whether you're looking for a special breed or just want to preview the pups or kitties at your local animal shelter, finding a new furry family member over the web is as easy as following these steps:

Step No. 1: Browse national pet adoption sites  Major pet adoption sites, such as Petfinder, 1-800-Save-A-Pet, and Pets 911, post information about their animals on their web sites. You can use your zip code to search for available pets in your area. You can even sign up for email alerts about new pets that meet your criteria.  Or, if you have your heart set on a specific dog breed or mix, you can check AnimalsDr for a list of breed-specific rescue sites.  To rescue a cat, try Sparke the Designer Cat for a list of online resources.

Step No. 2. Find a local shelter  "Adopting locally is a lot easier and you can avoid unwanted surprises," says Betsy McFarland of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). "I would encourage anyone who's interested in getting a pet to Google their city or county name and find a local shelter."

But before taking a trip to an animal adoption shelter near you, visit its web site and gather information about pets available for adoption.  Look at pictures, and read about each animal's life history, its recent circumstances, medical issues and health needs.  The goal is to get the back story about an animal before meeting it. And when you do end up meeting an animal in person, you can focus on things you cannot learn online -- such as its temperament and personality.

In addition to doing a Google search for animal shelters in your area, you can find listings for pet adoption centers on Petfinder, Pets 911, and Humane  Society of the United States, the HSUS web site.

Step No. 3: Work with reputable pet breeders vets  Not all breeders produce healthy, well-adjusted animals. And it's not uncommon for people to unwittingly purchase dogs from puppy mills, where animals are born and raised in unhealthy and inhumane conditions. Protect yourself by finding a breeder who cares for their animals. For dogs, you can find a reputable breeder from the American Kennel Club's web site, American Kennel Club. The Cat Fanciers' Association features a cat breeder referral service on its site, The Cat Fanciers' Association. And the HSUS offers a comprehensive checklist of things to look for in a breeder. 

Step No. 4: Beware of scams   If your entire adoption process is completed online, there are pitfalls to avoid. Be suspicious of breeders who insist on having your credit card number before delivering your pet. Consider using an escrow service, such as ESCROW or PUPPY ESCROW, which are third-party services that hold your money until you and the breeder are satisfied with the transaction. Using an online escrow service also gives you a chance to take your new pup for a health checkup before releasing funds to the breeder.

The best thing about searching for a four-legged companion online? With thousands of pets at your fingertips, you can be sure you'll find the right one for your family. "Shelters take in new animals every day and the population always changes," says McFarland. "If you look Monday online, maybe by Tuesday there might be a new pet available that meets your needs. You can keep a watch out."