Meet the Dogs Blogging Their Way to a New Life

(PRWEB) May 12, 2008 -- Tragically, thousands of dogs are abandoned every year. It is estimated that there could be as many as a 100,000 dogs seeking new homes in UK rescue shelters right now.

The people behind the DogsBlog.com website, specialist pet publishing company K9 Media Ltd, are keen to expand on the early success of the service, which is totally free to use for dog seekers and charities, and are in talks to take the concept worldwide.

Ryan O'Meara, editor in chief at K9 Magazine, came up with the concept for DogsBlog concept in the late 1990's after watching popular animal rescue TV shows.

"I used to be fascinated with shows such as Pet Rescue where they would have a special appeal for a dog who had been looking for a home for years. At the end of each episode they would profile the dog and then the next day they would always ask people to stop calling because they'd had thousands of enquiries. This really amazed me because I always used to think, if there are thousands of people who wanted this dog, where were they for the past years whilst he's been looking for a new home?"

A virtual window into the world of shelter dogs

"It dawned on me that it wasn't the fault of the people who wanted to adopt a dog, it was simply a case that there was no way of just being able to quickly see all the different dogs looking for new homes unless you physically started to visit all the rescue centres one by one.

I was passionate that a service where all the dogs could be showcased in one location would be well received. I also knew that for every single person thinking about getting a dog, somewhere in a rescue centre would be that person's perfect pet. It just so happened that in 2007 and the popularity of blogging, we were finally able to join up all the loose ends. Thankfully it's worked superbly for all concerned."

The Blue Cross, one of the charities involved with DogsBlog, is only too clear on the positive impact of the website: "The more people who see these dogs then the better chance they have of finding a home with a loving family. Prospective dog owners spend time looking at the site and can fall in love with the dog of their dreams"

Dog lovers agree.

Celebrity home improvement expert Linda Barker said of DogsBlog.com

"It really helps the new owner decide on the right dog for their circumstances in the comfort of their own home. This is how dog ownership should always start, what a fabulous service for the animal loving public who are wanting to adopt!"

A new feature for the site and one set to grow larger in 2008 is the addition of YouTube hosted videos of dogs looking for new owners.

DogsBlog co-founder Kim Bruce believes this extra innovation can get even more dogs into new homes:

"We launched DogsBlog.com to try and utilise the popularity of blog style websites, their ease of use and the user friendly way in which they allow information to presented and searched. It seemed a logical next step to add to this the popularity of videos and as it is now so simple to capture a short piece of video footage and broadcast it to a worldwide audience, we decided to experiment with a few small videos of dogs in shelters. The response was incredible with new homes being found literally within a day or two. Next year we will certainly be expanding this service."

It is the first website of its kind to unite so many dog welfare charities all under the same roof at the same time, which enables users to simply find the dog of their dreams without worrying about having to go from charity to charity.

Users can search for dogs by age, breed type, geographic location or even by a range of character traits such as dogs that are good with children, dogs who like cats or dogs who would be suitable to perform jobs of work.

As the site moves forward the aim is to assist more dog owners who are having troubles with their pets and are considering the possibility of rehoming them. DogsBlog.com has partnered with D.A.P (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) with the aim of offering support, advice and a solution for owners who are struggling with their dog's behaviour. The partnership with D.A.P is also good news for those people who adopt a dog from a rehoming shelter as they can greatly assist dogs during the often stressful initial settling in period as the synthetic copy of the canine appeasing pheromone is clinically proven to comfort and reassure puppies and adult dogs alike to help them adapt to a new home.

DogsBlog.com, a shining example of modern methods and modern dog expertise helping to fight the age old problem helping homeless dogs find new, loving owners.

DogsBlog.com Key Facts at May 6th 2008:

Dogs Available For Adoption: 879

Dogs Now Re-Homed: 1881

Number of Breeds: 92

Number of Rescue Shelters: 90

'Luckiest' Dog Name: Max (this is the most popular name amongst rehomed dogs)

'Unluckiest' Breed: Greyhounds, followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers are the most common breeds looking for new homes

'Rarest' Breed: Thai Ridegback. The less common 'cousin' of the more well known Rhodesian Ridgeback

Information For Editors

K9 Media Ltd is a specialist pet media business, with a portfolio of more than 37 titles, reaching an audience of more than 6.3m pet enthusiasts. Contact: Ryan O'Meara. T: 08700 114 115. E: ryan(at)k9media.net

DogsBlog.com Quotes:

Trude Mostue, celebrity vet:

"Dogsblog.com is a fantastic example of the entire pet industry coming together for the common good.

Ryan O'Meara, editor-in-chief K9 Magazine:

"DogsBlog will not only raise awareness of the thousands of dogs in the UK's rescue homes, but also provide the perfect match-making service between people who long to share their homes with a dog that needs some well deserved TLC."

Victoria Stilwell, Dog Behaviourist & TV Personality

"Dogsblog.com is an easy and effective way to find the perfect rescue dog. Those who are interested in a dog of a particular age, sex or breed can easily find what they are looking for on the site and because it casts the net wider that just the local area, more dogs have a chance of being adopted. The site provides shelters another valuable way in getting their dogs re-homed with the right kind of families. It's an excellent idea and I wish it every success."

Claire King, Actress

"A good idea, the more dogs who can be united with the right families for them, the better. I think the best thing about owning a dog is the fact that it makes you a more responsible person because you have someone else to look after who can't look after themselves and you are responsible for their welfare."

Former Crufts presenter and celebrity dog lover Philippa Forrester

"As a dog lover and someone who has re-homed dogs in the past, I think Dogsblog.com is a fantastic initiative. It will allow more dogs to find new homes and be united with loving owners, which can only be a good thing."

High quality images of DogsBlog.com celebrity supporters can be supplied upon request: email press@dogsblog.com or call 08700 114 115

Charity Quote:

"Since dogsblog.com launched and we came on board with our rescue, we've noticed a positive impact on the dogs who have been rehomed as a result of the site. It's made a real difference and we're pleased to be a part of it."

- Jon Swinhoe. Rescue co-ordinator. Zepthedep Rottweiler rescue.

DogsBlog Video Footage:

http://www.youtube.com/user/DogsBlog

Charities Partnered With DogsBlog.com

# 4PawsandMore Rescue

# Acresway Kennels Southend on Sea Essex

# Akita Rescue and Welfare Trust UK

# All Creatures Great and Small South Wales

# AllBreeds Rescue London

# Animal Care Lancaster

# Babworth Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) Nottinghamshire

# Bath Cats and Dogs Home

# Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

# Border Collie Trust GB Staffordshire

# Brighton Retired Greyhound Trust

# Chancepixies Rehoming Kent

# Clymping Dog Sanctuary West Sussex

# Croydon Strays

# Daneline UK

# Dogs Trust

# Doris Banham Sanctuary Lincolnshire

# Dorset Animal Workers Group (DAWG)

# Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre

# Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue

# Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue

# Friends of Akitas Trust UK

# Friends Of Animals League Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre Kent

# Furry Friends Animal Rescue Surrey

# Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home Plymouth

# GALA Greyhound and Lurcher Aid North East

# Give a Greyhound a Home Aberdeenshire

# Gloucestershire Animal Welfare Association

# Great Dane Rescue Wiltshire

# Greyhound Gap

# Greyhound Rescue North East

# Greyhound Rescue West of England

# Greyhound Welfare in Wales

# Greyhounds Galore Middlesbrough

# Greyhounds In Need Surrey

# Grinshill Dog Rescue Shropshire

# Hope Rescue Wales

# Japanese Akita Welfare Trust

# Jerry Green Dog Rescue

# K-nine-care West Yorkshire

# Labrador Rescue South East and Central

# Leicester Animal Aid

# Lurcher Link

# Manchester Dogs Home

    # Many Tears Animal Rescue Camarthenshire

# Mayhew Animal Home

# MGFT Animal Sanctuary Devon and Dorset

# Mid Sussex Happy Breed Dog Rescue Society

# Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare UK

# Nottingham Retired Greyhound Trust

# PACT Animal Sanctuary Norfolk

# Pawz for Thought Tyne and Wear

# Portsmouth City Dog Kennels

# Pound Puppy Animal Rescue Dorset

# Pro Dogs Direct

# Pupsneedinghomes East Sussex

# Radcliffe Animal Help Manchester

# Rain Rescue

# Retired Greyhound Trust East Anglia

# Rotherham Dog Rescue

# Royston Animal Welfare

# RSPCA Brighton and East Grinstead

# RSPCA Derby and District

# RSPCA Gonsal Farm Animal Centre

# RSPCA Herefordshire

# RSPCA Hillingdon Slough Windsor Kingston and District

# RSPCA Macclesfield South East Cheshire and Buxton

# RSPCA South Cotswolds Branch

# RSPCA Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Branch

# Ryedale Dog Rescue Yorkshire

# Save Our Strays Rescue North East England

# St Giles Kennels and Rehoming Centre Somerset

# Stokenchurch Dog Rescue Buckinghamshire

# Stray Action for Dogs

# The Algernon Trust Animal Sanctuary Northamptonshire

# The Blue Cross

# The Destitute Animal Shelter Bolton

# The Haven Southampton - Portsmouth

# The Peoples Animal Rescue and Rehoming Team

# The Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter Fareham Hampshire

# The York RSPCA Animals Home

# Three Counties Dog Rescue Lincolnshire

# Wolfwood Rehoming Lancaster

# Zepthedep Rottweiler Rescue Derbyshire

1 According to annual kennelling costs of £6.65 per day per dog published in January 2008

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