It's a dog's life on the web

9:36am Friday 16th May 2008

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Some time ago local children's author Helen McGlasson gave her real life canine character- Frog The Dog - its own blog: Frog Dog Blog Log. There is a link in our Literature - Education section or go direct to frogblogdoglog.blogspot.com/. Well, it seems she's not the only one using new media technology to share pet details. Here are some sites - local and national - that are blogging, posting images and talking in forums about more than just dogs.

People who book their dog into a Penrith boarding kennel can now read a daily blog' from their pet, while they are separated. Owners will be able to discover how far the dog has walked that day, the meals it has eaten, the games it enjoyed - and whether it has made any new friends. The dog-blogs are being offered at the kennels run by Ingrid Grayling, of Crosby Ravensworth, www.ingrid-grayling.com.

Pet Breeders have a blog that has general interest and hi-tech tips on topics like cat flap chips and why cats and dogs can be friends. www.ukpetbreeders.com/blog/ Doggy Snaps, a site for you to post your pet pictures to and chat with other happy pet snappers, has quite a well-rounded blog at editorsblog.doggysnaps.com/ . It covers topics like opinions on dog control orders, rock stars who support pet charities and favourite pet gifts. Nothing fancy, but fun to surf through.

The Dog's Trust Puppy Watch web cam offers a view of pups awaiting homes. Happily the last pups the trust had have found homes - and there's nothing to view.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Promotion/PuppyWatch/asp/Webcam_intro.asp With something visual for any animal lover go to http://itsanimals.com/. This global search site finds animal pics, videos and stories from around the globe. It has three columns with simple links. It's a one-stop shop for pet and wild life enthusiasts.

Of course, if you are a serious pet lover, the Animal Lovers Unite Forum is a busy place with lots of groups to join - www.animalloversunite.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=85.

The west Cumbria branch of Animal Concern, which focuses on re-homing pets, can be found at http://www.animalconcernwest.co.uk/ . They work with animals needing new homes and are looking for volunteers to help at their kennels; foster dogs, cats and small animals; carry out home checks; and fund raise.

Animal Rescue Cumbria - a pet charity of the late famous fell walker and guide book writer Alfred Wainwright and his wife Betty Wainwright - is online at http://www.animalrescuecumbria.co.uk/. The Wainwright Society website, http://www.wainwright.org.uk/ article/kapellan.html , gives more insight into the historical link between this famous author and his use of royalties to fund the rescue organisation. A nice little historic fact to drop into a conversation that is either literary or pet based.

Other sites in this family include The Dog's Trust http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/ and of course The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals http://www.rspca.org.uk/. RSPCA week was at the beginning of May and its Pet Adoption Week takes place in mid-June. If you are a pet lover, these charities offer a number of roles you can take on.

If you are taking a pet out of the country or bringing one in, you will want to check on our quarantine and pet immigration' laws at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/index.htm. Better safe than sorry.

There is no doubt pets and the web make a good match. From charitable organisations to show-and-tell photo or blog sites dedicated to your pet, there's a place for you and your animal online.

EVENTS: If you are having an event, whether it involves pets or not, make our free Events listing service a pet' site in your favourites, http://events.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/