It's very much like a dating service. People go online looking for companionship based on age, appearance and personality. Of course, the companions on this Web site are a little bit furrier.
For about four years, the Warren County Humane Society has been putting their animals on Petfinder.com and have been able to place pets across the country.
"Petfinder has changed our life here," Humane Society director Karen Kolos said.
Kolos said the Humane Society has been putting a picture and a profile of each cat and dog in their shelter on the site, with varying stipulations about special needs and if the animal can live in a home with young kids, cats or dogs.
Kolos said the Web site has been attracted interested prospective owners nationwide.
In fact, since they have used the site, Kolos said people have come from many different places, from Buffalo, N.Y. to Michigan, to adopt pets.
"It opens us up to the wide world," she said. "People are willing to drive two, three, even six hours."
Kolos said the Web Site has been a great resource, especially as more people are technologically savvy and interested in looking for a pet online.
She said people have called them from out of town before and asked them what cats and dogs they have available, but when they can see a photo and learn a little bit about the animal, it makes a big difference.
Another thing Kolos has discovered from Petfinder is Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet Day, which is "celebrated" on August 12.
Kolos said she had never heard of it before, but thought it was interesting, considering the Humane Society has a few pets that would be considered "less adoptable."
Among the animals labeled as such are older pets, pets with missing limbs or special needs, victims of breed prejudice (ie: pitt bulls and rottweilers) and pets with other medical problems.
Two of the Humane Society's special needs pets are Shadow, a "senior" golden retriever/German shepherd mix and Cappy, a blue heeler puppy.
Both Cappy and Shadow are happy, lovable dogs with one small problem: each is missing a leg.
Shadow, who is nine, is what Kolos called a "double whammy" in the realm of less adoptable pets: he is older and his missing one of his hind legs.
Kolos said Shadow was hit by car, lost one of his legs and was abandoned. She said he has been with Humane Society since May.
"He's a really good boy," Kolos said.
In spite of his age and missing limb, Shadow still gets around like a much younger dog.
Cappy, who is under a year old, is missing one of his front legs, possibly from a farming accident. Kolos said he was found on Oil Creek Rd. this summer, living under a trailer with a newly severed leg.
She said they had to set a trap for him, because he couldn't be caught by anyone.
On July 16, Kolos said Cappy had surgery on his missing leg and has since been learning to walk on a leash.
Though Cappy and Shadow are energetic, playful and lovable, Kolos said sometimes it takes a "certain" kind of person to want to adopt them.
In addition to the two three-legged dogs, the Humane Society also has two older dogs, Jethro and Darryl and a cat with a leg injury that will need to be amputated.
In spite of the label of "less adoptable," Kolos said all of these animals are perfectly adoptable in every way.
"We're not asking them to take unhealthy pets," she said. "We're sending out pets that still have a life left to live and enjoy."
